“That’s cool,” I thought to myself.
“Indeed it is.”
“Hey,” I said, pulling myself away from him.
“Now remember, if you lie to me, I will know,” he said, looking down at me. It was almost as if he was testing me. If he was, I wasn’t going to chance it. I kept my mouth shut and my head clear, which was hard to do with everything that happened.
“Liam,” my mom chastised. “Don’t scare Ella. Honey remember, he can only get in your head if you let him.”
“Jamila.”
“Oh stop it,” she laughed and hugged him tight.
“Okay, so I know what mom and dad can do. What about you two?” I asked Xander and Dean.
“I can project thoughts like dad,” Dean said.
I turned to Xander next. “I can move things.”
“Like telekinesis?” He nodded and demonstrated by moving the flower vase across the table. “I knew it! That’s how I won the game, isn’t it?” He didn’t confirm nor deny it, but I knew.
“What game?” my mom asked.
Dean and Xander shook their heads at me. “Umm…”
Crap.
“Pool,” my dad said simply.
“How, I thought you had to –”
He cut me off. “I know my boys. Who you think taught Xander?” he said with a slight gleam in his eye.
“You took Ella to a pool hall?” my mom said aghast. Dean and Xander looked away guilty, not wanting to answer her.
“Come on Jamila,” my dad said, pulling her away. He no longer seemed to be too upset about our little outing. “We’ll discuss their punishment in the morning.”
Crap. Crap. Crap.
After they left I turned back to Xander. “Okay if our powers come from our bloodline, then how come you can move things?”
“Our grandfather could and I can also read auras like mom.”
“So no one in our family could heal?” I asked, again, hating being the outcast.
“No,” Xander said softly, sensing my frustration.
I ran a hand through my hair and let out a breath. I put the thought behind me telling myself no, I was not an outcast. I was special, one of a kind like my mom said. “Do you want me to heal that for you?’ I asked Xander.
“You can tomorrow, when you’re stronger. Just rest for tonight.”
I agreed with him on the rest part. It was definitely a long day and night and sleep was what I needed. I thanked them both for trying to help by taking me out and then Dean and I left Danni and Xander alone in the kitchen. I went straight up to my room, washed off all of my make-up, and crashed on my bed. I learned so much tonight and my mind was reeling with all this new information. I had a hard time shutting it off. I took out my journal and wrote down what I knew. It didn’t take me long to fall asleep after that.
Chapter seven
I had two more days until I left for school and most of it was spent cleaning and gardening. My dad had given the workers the week off putting Xander, Dean, and I in charge of their duties as per our punishment. I also believe he gave us ten times more work than he normally did the workers. I could tell Danni was really enjoying watching us do all her work while she sat back and played with Hadley. I even caught her laughing a few times and even tried to get Xander to wear an apron. He glared at her which just made her laugh even harder.
I tried arguing about the punishment. I pleaded not guilty, saying they had taken me against my will, but of course they didn’t buy it. I think this was just my dad’s way of getting back at me for my tattoos. I had to admit my Dad was a lot harder on Xander and Dean for the fact that they had taken his only, under aged daughter to some scummy bar and got into a bar fight. So I guess I couldn’t complain…much. My mom even got her own revenge by making us go to her garden club meetings and taking away our cell phones. She said it was punishment for gambling. I didn’t mind the garden club, but I knew it was torture on the boys, especially Dean since he didn’t have a phone. Xander was the only one allowed to keep his phone because of work. I could have cared less. I had no one to call me anyways.
By the end of the week I was exhausted, sore, and in desperate need of a manicure. My dad let me off the hook early because I had to pack for school. Usually this was something I would have done earlier, but I really wasn’t looking forward to going so I tried pushing it off as long as I could. There were a lot of things I didn’t do the same any more.
Dean had warned me not to worry about packing too many clothes since they had a uniform, which I was not happy about. The only upside to it was not having to worry about deciding what to wear every day. I was told that the school to the outside world was thought of as a very prestigious, private college. I guess uniforms would be suiting to keep up with façade – although I never heard of a college where you had to wear uniforms.
The school was a four year school depending on how well you developed. After you finished your prerequisite courses you could switch to any course you wanted to take – that is if you passed. I knew my dad was hoping that I would continue to stay on at this school even after I finished the required courses. I told him I wasn’t making any promises, but would consider taking on some extra courses to see how I liked it. I figured if I kept myself busy in school work I wouldn’t have to worry about other things like making friends or trying to fit in.
After mentally driving myself crazy with what to pack, I finally decided to pack just the essentials; hoodies, jeans, and pajamas. I also packed a few basic shirts, minimal make-up, and Josie’s favorite black boots. I didn’t really need anything else.
Thursday morning, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready to leave for my new life at my new school. My mom had made a huge breakfast spread and packed some snacks for Dean and I to take with us, making me feel like I was five and going on a field trip. “Don’t forget your winter coat,” Dean reminded me.
Crap, I forgot.
I quickly ran upstairs and opened my closet, realizing the only winter coats I had were from Tristan. I sighed and grabbed my puffy vest instead. I did not want to take something with me that would remind me of him. I still wore the star necklace he gave me, but that’s only because it was the one thing I couldn’t bear to give up.
I headed back down the stairs telling myself the vest would have to do until we got to Rhode Island where I could buy a jacket. My mom tried to calm me before I left, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. My nerves were a wreck and getting worse by the minute. I allowed her to do what she does to give her some peace of mind. We left shortly after we said our goodbyes and piled in the car.
When we arrived in Rhode Island, we had a car waiting for us to take us to the school. First year students weren’t allowed to leave campus without written consent and from what Dean had told me that was usually only in case of an emergency. So unfortunately there was no need to have my car sent here. One more thing I didn’t like about this school. Being confined inside the school’s walls and not being able to leave made it feel more like a prison than a school. They claimed it was for our safety, but I say it’s so they can control us better.
I asked the driver to stop at one of the local shops so I could find a winter jacket. We had an hour drive before we would reach the school and this vest was not warm enough for the cold winters here. I found a basic black coat that fell just above the knee. I also got gloves, a scarf, and hat. On the drive there, Dean tried to explain a few things to me about the school, but I was too busy being distracted by the scenery to pay attention to him.
The school was located a few miles away from all civilization. They claimed it was for privacy and to help keep us from getting distracted – from what, I don’t know. From what I saw there wasn’t much to do around here. There were only a few mom and pop shops, one restaurant and one diner. I think there was a theatre, but couldn’t even be sure if it was open. The place looked so rundown I wouldn’t be surprised if it was condemned. I sighed at the lack of life that seemed to be present here.
&n
bsp; The car turned down a long stretch of road that was lined with trees. The deeper we got the denser the woods became. It was hard to imagine how anyone could ever find this place. There was no sign when we turned onto the snow covered road, if you could call it that. I imagined that is was just a path made of rock and dirt from the way the car shook back and forth. As we continued down the bumpy road my eyes wandered out the window, gazing upon all the bare trees. Icicles hung from the branches, weighing down the weaker ones, causing them to scream with anticipation of breaking free. Snow covered most of the land creating a white blanket across the ground. I was glad I took Dean’s suggestion and picked up a pair of snow boots, although I hadn’t expected to bust them out so soon. I wasn’t keen on losing my feet to frostbite so I made sure I got some heavy duty ones.
“We’re here,” Dean said, catching my attention. “Welcome to Hamilton Hill.” I tore my eyes away from the scenery and focused straight ahead on the long, winding driveway. As we approached the school, I glanced at the perimeter. It was lined with a dark gray stone wall that reached to what looked to be about eight feet high, reminding me more of a prison than a school.
The car paused in front of a large, black iron gate. A security guard approached the vehicle. The driver rolled down his window and handed him some papers. The guard looked them over, handed them back, and then opened the gate to let us through. I noticed a security camera on both sides of the gate and monitors in the guard tower. Two guards stood in the tiny tower watching over the monitors. I assumed they were vamps. They were huge like Gabe and not someone you would want to mess with.
As we drove up another long, winding road, I noticed more guardians perched at different spots all over the premise. Reason number three I felt like I was heading into solitary confinement instead of school. “What’s with all the muscle?” I asked Dean.
“For extra protection,” he said. “Although, there’s a lot more than usual.”
I sighed. I knew he wouldn’t admit it but I’m sure our dad had something to do with the extra guardians.
The school stood at the top of a hill and it was massive. The pictures in the brochures did not do it justice. The school was made up of dark gray stone similar to the wall that lined the perimeter. The building looked very old, but well kept. It was like something out of a history book...it’s castle like feel. The school seemed to stretch about a half a mile long and looked as tall as the sky. There was a bell tower to the right and a watch tower on the left. I couldn’t even imagine what the rest of it looked like.
Dean told me he would help me settle in then I was on my own. He was even nice enough to help me out with my luggage – of course he picked out the lightest ones. He only had one small bag because most of his stuff was already here. I threw a bag over each shoulder and slid out the handle on my extra-large suitcase, dragging it behind me. I had to lean forward or else the weight of the bags would have toppled me over. I had only packed two bags but my mom insisted it wasn’t enough and decided to finish packing for me. I was afraid to see what she packed.
Dean kept yelling at me to hurry up. I glared at him as he easily made his way up the steps with his bag and the two small ones he offered to carry for me. “Jerk,” I mumbled to myself. I adjusted the bags and continued on my way, checking out the sights as I did. I guess I wasn’t paying attention, because something or should I say, someone, slammed into my shoulder causing me to stumble backwards.
“Watch it!” the girl sneered. Her and her group of friends laughed as they walked past, leaving me in the cold snow.
Great, just perfect.
I lay on my bags, on the ground for a moment, like a turtle stuck on its back. The air shifted, a shadow casted over top of me. My eyelids fluttered open to see a pair of piercing blue eyes staring back at me. I flinched. My heart sputtered out of control, making it hard for me to catch my breath. I thought for a second I was dreaming, that was until he spoke. “You okay?” he asked with an Irish accent, offering a hand to help me up.
“Yeah,” I said, brushing the snow off my jeans which had now soaked through, making my wet butt freeze. I stood there, mesmerized by the familiarity of his eyes. His long, black, wavy hair was teetering close to his eyelashes, threatening to hide those beautiful blues. He gazed back at me intensely for a mere second before the spell was broken.
“Roman!” I heard a girl shriek. The boy gave me a half smile before he jogged away to rejoin his friends.
Dean turned around to see what the holdup was. “Seriously Ella, quit dawdling. We didn’t even make it inside yet and you’re taking a break?” he complained.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What! Me! She ran into me and I fell and the bitch didn’t say she was sorry.”
“What are you babbling about?” he asked, looking at me like I was nuts.
“That girl,” I said, pointing in the direction of which they were walking.
“Were you watching where you were going?” he asked like it was my fault.
“That’s beside the point,” I growled.
Dean helped me pick my stuff up off the ground and I handed him one of my bigger bags as I shivered from my cold, wet jeans. “You’re off to a good start of making friends,” Dean said, laughing.
“I’m not here to make friends,” I replied, making him frown.
“Well, that bitch that you ran into is Mackenzie Hilliard. She could make you or break you.”
I looked back over my shoulder at her and her group of friends. The boy who had helped me was peering back at me. The bitch who had given me the sore butt elbowed him, making him turn back around. He threw his arm over her shoulder without another glance. “Ella?” Dean called.
“Who’s that guy?” I asked Dean.
He looked up. “That’s Roman Ashby. He’s one of the good guys. Not a psycho, I promise.” I gave him one more glance before I followed Dean inside. There was something about that guy. I felt it when we touched. Almost like a small shock from static electricity. I couldn’t put my finger on it but something told me I would be seeing a lot of him.
Dean took me to the office where I had to sign in as a new student and get the room number of where I would be staying. The office looked like a fancy Doctor’s waiting room. Chairs lined the giant glass windows, magazine racks hung on the walls, gray filing cabinets, and dark brown shelves lined with books. I was thankful for the short break while they put my information in the system. The secretary handed me an envelope with the school rules and regulations along with my schedule and room number. I picked up my things while juggling the paperwork in my hand and followed Dean out of the office. He told me after he took me to my room I was on my own. I learned from the brochure that girls and guys didn’t live on the same level. I guess this was another one of their ways to keep us from getting ‘distracted’. I was even surprised they had us in the same building.
My room was on the fifth floor and there were no elevators. So we had to trudge up the five flights of stairs to get there. I barely made it to the third floor before I had to take a break. Not that I couldn’t handle the steps, it was just a lot harder when carrying about fifty pounds of luggage.
Dean rolled his eyes at me, called me pathetic, and took my heaviest bag. When we finally reached my floor, we figured out that my room was at the end of the hall. I dragged my luggage behind me and kept my head down. There were a few students here and there gossiping about - I assumed - their holiday break. About everyone we passed said hi to Dean or gave him a high five. All the girls swooned as he walked past saying their hellos. “Hi Dean,” “Hey Dean,” “Welcome back,” “I’ve missed you.”
“Megan, Sherry, Kylie.” He smiled and winked at every single one of them. It took everything I had not to gag. I shouldn’t have expected anything less. Of course Dean would know everyone, and by everyone, I mean all the girls.
When we reached my room he handed me my bags. “Alright, you think you can handle it from here?” I rolled my eyes. “My room is the next floor down, 407.
So if you need anything just come find me, but knock first.” He winked and gave me a light punch on the arm. “I’ll come get you for dinner later,” he called over his shoulder as he jogged down the hall. “Ladies,” he said, throwing his arms over two blonds who started to giggle. I rolled my eyes and turned to unlock my door with the key they had given me at the office.
I opened the door to my new room and carried in all my stuff. The room was fairly large, bigger than my dorm in Vermont. Inside were two full size beds, two nightstands, two chest sets, and two small closets. The bed closest to the window was already taken and decorated with what looked like very expensive, designer fabrics.
I looked around the room. I didn’t see anyone else so I assumed my roommate was off mingling somewhere. I was nervous about meeting her. This time I wouldn’t be lucky enough to get someone I knew.
In my investigation of the rest of the room I discovered we had our own bathroom. The bathroom wasn’t very big and most of it was taken up by my roommate. “It could be worse,” I shrugged, closing the door. On the empty bed there were two brown boxes with my name on them. After further digging, I learned they were my books and uniform. The uniforms reminded me of a catholic high school. There was a few pair of black slacks, navy blue and black V-neck sweaters, and of course the dreaded plaid skirt. It wasn’t as bad as I pictured. The majority of the skirt was black with thin blue and green stripes. There was also a few button down shirts; black, white, and light blue. At the very bottom was gym clothes, knee high socks, and a pair of regulatory shoes. “This sucks,” I huffed, sagging down on the bed. I was beginning to feel like I was in some reform school where everyone was a drone.
I took a deep breath and tried not to let it get the best of me. I was contemplating taking a tour of the school, but I remembered the brochure saying they would do that during orientation. Instead I decided to unpack my stuff to pass time until dinner and change out of my wet jeans so I wouldn’t catch pneumonia.
The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven Page 50