The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “So you still like me?” I asked, wanting to know for sure.

  “Very much so,” he smiled, caressing my face. I flinched. “Oh, yeah, I forgot. Billy got you pretty good, didn’t he?”

  “I’m not going to lie, that hurt, a lot. I almost cried,” I confessed. “It felt like I got hit with a two by four.”

  “Ella, you are such a mess,” he laughed, guiding me back to the gym. “Why don’t you go get changed and I’ll go to the nurse’s office and get you some ice.”

  “Thank you,” I said, heading into the girls’ locker room.

  So Roman liked me a lot. And I think I liked him too.

  Crap, what have I gotten myself into?

  Chapter twenty-one

  “Hey are you okay?” Cameron asked as I joined them in the locker room.

  “Yeah, I just, um, had to do something quick,” I said.

  “Cameron told me what Mackenzie did. Ella I’m so sorry. She had asked me before to join, but the spells they do aren’t good and I don’t want to be involved in that,” Sienna said. “And I’m sorry I blurted it out like that.” She looked away. Not able to meet my eyes.

  “I know we agreed to tell her but it couldn’t have waited until later?” I said to Cameron. She just shrugged her shoulders.

  “Ella, I promise I won’t say anything…well…again,” Sienna said smiling guiltily.

  “Let’s just drop it for now. I’m done talking about it for today.”

  “How about we get together this weekend and come up with a way to stop her once and for all,” Cameron said.

  “Sounds perfect,” I replied. “Now hurry up and change. I’m starving.”

  “When are you not?” Sienna said and I threw a towel at her.

  After showering – again – and changing, we left for the dining hall together. I found Roman waiting outside for me. I had forgotten he said he was going to get me some ice for my eye. “Oh hey, sorry I took so long,” I said to Roman.

  “It’s okay,” he said, handing me the ice pack which was surprisingly still cold. I gently placed it over my eye and mumbled thanks.

  I found Billy outside the dining hall pacing. “Ella hey, I was looking for you,” he said concerned.

  “And you decided to look for me outside the dining hall?”

  “Well if I knew you would be anywhere it would be here getting food,” he laughed.

  “Do I really eat that much?” I asked.

  “Yes,” they all said together.

  “How’s your eye?” Billy asked, turning serious again.

  I pulled the ice pack away and Billy made a face. “That bad?”

  “No…no…it’s…”

  “Just stop,” I said, holding up my hand.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, feeling awful.

  “It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. Don’t worry about it. I heal fast.”

  “It’s a shame you can’t heal yourself,” Dean said, joining us.

  “I know. What good is having the power to heal if I can’t heal myself,” I complained.

  “It’s good for when you knock my ass into a wall,” Roman said, winking at me.

  When we sat down at our table Austin automatically informed us of the latest gossip. “Did you guys hear that Mr. Callahan was banging a student?”

  I froze.

  Sienna and Dixon looked down at their trays. I looked to Cameron next, whose face was as pale as a ghost. Sensing my panic Roman asked, “Who told you that?”

  “Who didn’t tell me? It’s all over campus,” he said.

  “Does anyone know who it is?” I asked nervously.

  “No. All we know is she’s a new student with raggedy hair, kind of pathetic, bad skin. Basically a lowly girl who no one would touch,” Reagan said.

  I gawked. My hair was not raggedy, it may be unruly sometimes, but not raggedy. I still may get the occasional zit, but other than that my skin was flawless and I was not pathetic. Who said that stuff? Cameron leaned in. “Relax Ella, no one knows who it is, but keep looking like that and they’ll start getting suspicious,” she said.

  I turned to her. “I am not a lowly girl,” I whispered harshly.

  “Yes, I know. But better they think that than realize who it really is.”

  “True,” I thought to myself. I guess I was going to have to grin and bear it. “I can’t believe she actually went through with it,” Dixon said in a low voice.

  Mackenzie and her group walked past our table and she turned to me, smiling. My whole body tensed. It took everything I had not to attack her. “Down girl, you don’t want to incriminate yourself,” Dixon whispered.

  Mackenzie, surprising us all, came over to our table. Addyson and Madison wouldn’t even look at me and you could see they had fear in their eyes. “So Dean, now that I lightened my load by getting rid of some excess baggage,” she shot Roman a look. “I’m free for the dance next Saturday if you wanted to ask me.”

  I couldn’t believe she had the audacity. I swear, if he says yes there will be nothing stopping me from killing both of them. “As you know, Mackenzie, I’m a wanted man,” Dean said, leaning back casually. “Once I narrow it down I’ll get back to ya,” he winked.

  “We all know who you will choose in the end. Don’t keep me waiting too long,” she purred as she ran her finger down his chest. I slid my chair back ready to get up and say something when Sienna stopped me.

  “Ella don’t,” she said, but only I heard it. I then realized I couldn’t move my legs. “Yes I’m doing that and I will stop when Mackenzie leaves or until you can calm down.” I looked over at Sienna and cursed her. “I heard that,” she said.

  “So, Ella, will you be going to the dance?” Mackenzie asked. “You know if you can’t find a date I hear Mr. Callahan’s available. You look like his type,” she smirked. If it wasn’t for Sienna holding me here I would have ripped each and every strand out of her big, bobble head.

  “She already has a date,” Roman intervened.

  “Oh, really, and who would that be?” Mackenzie asked intrigued.

  I sat there silently, waiting for his answer and wondering what the hell he was thinking. Even Dean stopped what he was doing long enough to hear Roman’s answer. “Me,” he said, surprising everyone.

  The shocked expression on Mackenzie’s face was enough to make me smile. She quickly recovered and said, “Ella likes things that are old and used.” I ignored her jab and turned back to Roman. I stared at him.

  “What?” he said.

  “Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. Dean gave Roman a suspicious look and Cameron glared at me like I was hiding something. I shrugged my shoulders innocently, pretending I had no idea what was going on, which wasn’t far from the truth.

  After Mackenzie’s departure and the shock of Roman’s announcement wore off. I noticed I could no longer feel my legs. “Um, Sienna,” I said, gesturing to my legs.

  “Oh, sorry,” she blushed and let me go. I rubbed my numb legs until the feeling slowly started to return. Roman and I exchanged a few glances from across the table, but neither of us said a word about what happened a few minutes ago. Cameron caught us and made a face saying, ‘we will be talking later’.

  Riley and Justin joined us right after Mackenzie’s little stage act. “Why does everyone look so tense?” Justin asked, sitting down.

  “When you’re in the presence of greatness,” Dean started but I threw my roll at him before he could finish. We all laughed, diffusing some of the tension.

  “I missed you in class today. Where were you?” Riley asked me.

  “She was helping me move my stuff to my new room,” Billy said and I smiled thankfully at him. Not that I couldn’t tell Riley about my dream. I just didn’t want the whole world to know.

  “What were you guys talking about?” Riley asked as she peeled her orange.

  “The dance,” Dixon said.

  “Are you going?” Riley looked at me anxiously. I didn’t know how to answer. I wasn’t sure if Roma
n said he was going with me just to get at Mackenzie or not.

  “Of course she’s going,” Cameron said, elbowing me. I wasn’t sure if that was a ploy to get me to admit something, so I just put on a fake smile and nodded. I looked over at Roman. He had his head down and kept quiet. “It sucks we can’t leave campus. Now I have to wear something I already own,” Cameron whined.

  “Sorry,” I said, knowing it was my fault that no one was allowed to leave.

  “It’s not your fault,” Cameron said, trying to make me feel better, but we all knew the truth.

  “Ella?” Ms. Kraft addressed me. I hadn’t even noticed she walked up.

  “Yes Ms. Kraft?” I half expected her to yell at me for running out of her class without an explanation.

  “Mr. Callahan had asked me to come find you. You are wanted in his office immediately,” she said. I was scared this had something to do about the rumor that was floating around. I didn’t give myself anytime to deliberate and followed Ms. Kraft to his office.

  “Ms. Kraft, do you know what this is about?” I asked her once we were outside.

  “No dear, I do not, but I’m sure everything is fine.”

  She hadn’t once mentioned about me leaving class today and I wondered if maybe I should say something. “Ms. Kraft, I’m sorry I ran out of class today. I…”

  She stopped and turned to face me. “Ella, I know you have a lot going on and I understand why you were so upset. You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

  “Wait, what do you mean you understand?”

  She smiled politely at me. “Ella, I know you had a nightmare.”

  “But how? Is it because you are a witch?”

  “That and I saw you sleeping,” she said. I looked away embarrassed and curious as to why she didn’t wake me up. “I didn’t wake you because the spirits told me you were dreaming and that it was an important dream you needed to have,” she explained as if she read my mind.

  I looked at her like she was nuts. “Spirits told you?” Seriously, how was I the one that everyone thought was crazy?

  She laughed, gesturing for us to continue walking. “Ella, you really need to start doing your homework and pay attention in my class. Remember how I told you that we use the elements to communicate?” I nodded. “Well, they also communicate with us as well.”

  “Are these spirits, like in ghosts, dead people?”

  She laughed again at my stupid question, but didn’t make me feel like it was stupid. “Yes dear.”

  “Can anyone communicate with them?”

  She sighed. “Yes and no. The more powerful the person is the greater the connection.”

  “Oh, so only witches can,” I said disappointed.

  “It hasn’t been proven that only witches can, but it also hasn’t been proven anyone else can’t either. Like I said, the more powerful the person the better connection,” she smiled.

  “What about the whole psychic thing? Are they for real or not?”

  “Some are, but you must be careful not to be fooled,” she warned.

  “How can you tell?”

  “Ella, this is something that will take some time to discuss. I’d really like to work with you if you don’t mind devoting your time?”

  I was really curious about learning more, but I was not ready to give up my weekends. Then I remembered I didn’t have training everyday anymore and could meet with her after class. “Can we meet on Tuesday? Gabe and I are only training three days a week now so I have Tuesdays and Thursdays free. “

  “That will be perfect,” she smiled as we reached Mr. Callahan’s office.

  “Thank you Ms. Kraft,” I said, turning to open the door to the office.

  “I will see you in class on Monday and I will work this weekend on things to work with you on this Tuesday.”

  I smiled at her one more time before I stepped inside the office. “Miss McCallister, you may go right in,” the secretary said as my stomach started to do flip flops.

  I opened the door and almost fell over from shock. “Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?”

  “Is that anyway to greet your mother?” my mom said, standing up. “Ella, what happened to your eye?” she gasped, noticing the bruise right away.

  “Small accident in training. No big deal,” I said, brushing it off. I looked at both my parents. “Is everything okay?” I asked worried.

  “Of course, why would you think something was wrong?”

  “Because you’re here,” I said. “Why are you here?” I asked suspiciously.

  “Can’t we come visit our daughter without there being a reason for alarm?” my dad said, kissing me on the cheek.

  “With you, no,” I said, eyeing him.

  He gave me his, ‘I’m not in the mood for your smartass mouth’ look and turned back to Mr. Callahan. “I appreciate you filling us in. We will be spending a few hours here before we retire to our hotel.”

  “We do have some extra rooms available in the guest housing if you would like to stay here. The nearest hotel is an hour and a half away,” Aidan said, making me wish I had something to throw at him.

  “I guess that would be better than traveling back and forth,” my mom said.

  “Alright then. We’ll stay here. Thank you Aidan. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.”

  “I can have Gabe show you to one of the empty rooms. It’s not the Ritz, but at least it’s close,” Aidan smiled.

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” my mom said, flashing her million dollar smile.

  Aidan picked up the phone to call Gabe and I turned on my parents. “Okay, for real, why are you here? And don’t say it’s because you just wanted to see me, because if that were true Dean would be here too.”

  “We will discuss the why at another time and as for Dean, he will be meeting us later,” my dad said.

  “Does Dean know you guys are here?” They didn’t have to say anything. I already knew the answer. “What the hell?”

  “Watch your mouth,” my father warned. I stifled an eye roll.

  “Gabe will be down in a moment,” Aidan said, hanging up the phone. I wish I hadn’t had Ms. Kraft renew that spell to block thoughts again. That way I could figure out what was really going on. We had tried to see if I could handle it when it faded the first time, but by my second class I wanted to rip my hair out. So I had asked her to redo the spell. This was one power that was going to take me a while to adjust to.

  Chapter twenty-two

  After Gabe showed my parents to their room, my mom asked me to introduce her to my teachers while Gabe and my dad talked. I convinced her to let me take her on a tour of the school instead. After the tour I showed her my room. She looked around at everything, judging. I knew she wouldn’t out right admit it but I knew she was analyzing the way I had things set up. She was always very particular about where things should go, which is why I made sure to make everything a little more chaotic. “So, what’s your roommate like?” she asked. I knew she was trying hard not to move things around.

  “Hmm…my roommate…yeah…she’s kind of this evil bitch that for some reason has her mind set on destroying me,” I smiled. My mom looked at me like I was exaggerating. That was until I let her know it wasn’t a joke.

  “Did you say something to the headmaster? He seems like a reasonable man. I don’t see how this problem couldn’t be dealt with rationally.”

  I could not tell my mom that Aidan was part of her evil plan. “It’s not that big of a deal. She moved out of my room about a month ago and since then things have been fine,” I said, hoping she couldn’t tell I was lying.

  She sat down on the bed next to me. “Ella, I know you’re hiding something. You can tell me. Whatever it is? I know you think because I’m your mother there are some things you may feel uncomfortable telling me, but I don’t want you to feel like that.”

  “I know,” I sighed.

  “Have I ever done anything that would make you think you couldn’t tell me something? Regardless of what
it was?”

  I looked at my mom. She was right. She never judged me for all the mistakes I made or for anything I did. She always just listened and gave me the best advice a mom could give. I didn’t know if it was because I was holding everything in for so long or I was actually happy to have my mom to talk to, but the second I opened my mouth everything came flying out.

  “Okay, so, Mackenzie, my roommate, put a lust spell on me and Mr. Callahan resulting in us not being able to keep our hands off each other and the only way the spell would break was if we slept together. But the spell backfired because apparently my powers are ridiculously strong and I’m hard to bewitch. Then she knocked me out, tied me to a chair, and demanded I make my friend, Sienna, join her coven or she would tell the whole school about me and Mr. Callahan. I refused and she was going to leave me there until I managed to keep the door closed and knock her unconscious making her friends untie me so I could heal her. I still have nightmares, but new ones all the time. I have developed several more powers since I’ve been here which one resulted in me glowing and I think I’m falling in love with a boy.” I stopped there, shocked at my own admission. That last confession came out of nowhere, making me just as surprised as she was.

  “Anything else?” she asked nervously. I shook my head no. Her face was expressionless and I started to get nervous. She stood up and started to pace the room. Her mouth would open and then close. She seemed to be at a loss for words. “This Mackenzie girl, she was your roommate?” I nodded. “Where is she now?” I shrugged. She stopped and her face turned bright red. I’ve never seen my mom this upset. “We’re going to find this…this…bitch. Nobody hurts my little baby and gets away with it.”

  “Whoa…down girl,” I said, stopping her before she charged out of the room. “Mackenzie will be dealt with, but on my terms. This is my problem and I can deal with it.” She hesitated. “Mom, really. No sense in you getting involved. I’m an adult now and can handle my own problems.”

  She sunk down on the bed, giving in. I saw a sense of calm come over her as I sat down next to her. She smiled and gently caressed my cheek. “When did you get so grown up?”