The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “Yes. Nan’s whiskey is magically enhanced, I guess you could say.”

  “That dirty little –”

  He cut me off. “What did you two talk about in there?”

  “I’m too tired. Can’t you just bite me and find out?”

  “No. I can’t.”

  I sat up and then quickly realized that might not have been such a good idea. “Why not?” I asked, grabbing my head.

  “It’s the drink, because of what my Nan puts in it. It wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said, rubbing my temples.

  “She’s a sneaky little witch,” I said, lying back down.

  Tristan watched me. He delicately brushed a piece of hair off my face making my whole body tingle. The look in his eyes made my heart melt. I wanted to reach up and touch him, but I couldn’t seem to make my arm move, it was too much effort. Instead I just stared into his beautiful blue eyes and smiled. “I have a surprise for you. You think you can stand?”

  “Piece of cake,” I said, not even making the slightest attempt to move.

  “Here, let me help you.” He slipped his arm behind my back and gently raised me to a sitting position. Then he threw my arm over his shoulder while wrapping his around my waist and lifting me up. I held on tight as he walked me out into the garden.

  Still distracted by the glowing orbs, I kept reaching out in front of me. Sudden realization hit me and I gasped. “They’re fairies aren’t they?” I smiled and tried to catch one. “They’ve come to hear the bluebells and create mischief,” I giggled. I could tell Tristan didn’t have the heart to tell me no and just let me believe that they were real.

  He pulled me a little further down the garden and we came to a stop in front of a table set up for two. There were candles lit up all along the perimeter of the garden, sparkling lights in the trees, and music playing in the background. “What is this?” I asked amazed.

  “The Airborne Toxic Event, ‘All for a Woman.’”

  “Not the song.” I rolled my eyes. I gestured to the table.

  “Dinner for two,” he said, kissing my hand. “And I don’t think it’s come at a better time. You should really eat something, but first, a dance.” He smiled and wrapped my arms over his shoulders.

  “I don’t how well I’ll be able to dance.”

  He slid his hands around my waist and onto my lower back pulling me closer to him. “Don’t worry. Just follow my lead.”

  “I can’t believe you did all this? And when did you have time to cook? We were in the kitchen the whole time.” I tried to figure out how it was possible, but all it did was make my head spin.

  “I used the grill,” he said, pointing over my shoulder. I turned to look. He turned my face back to his and kissed my lips.

  “You didn’t have to do all this.”

  “I wanted to do something special for you. After all, you did save my life, twice.”

  “That is true. You do owe me,” I joked.

  “Whatever your heart desires.”

  “Just you,” I smiled. I reached up on my tiptoes to kiss his wonderful lips. “And by the way, this is one of my favorite songs.”

  “And now it will be our song.” I laid my head on his chest while we swayed back and forth.

  After our dance we had a delicious dinner. I ate everything on my plate and even some of Tristan’s. He sat there sipping what I believed was blood and smiling at my hearty appetite. When we were finished, or should I say when I was finished, we headed back to the lounge chairs by the porch. He carefully helped me lay back on the chair while he retreated inside to grab some more drinks.

  I felt someone shake my arm and I opened my eyes to see Deirdre standing next to me. “You giving up on me already?” she laughed, sitting in the chair next to me.

  “No,” I said, sitting up slowly. “I was just waiting for you.” I smiled and took the glass from her hand. She laughed again as we both lied there and looked up at the stars.

  A few minutes later Tristan came back out with Caleb. Deirdre and I were laughing our asses off – at what I didn’t know. I think at this point I was just hallucinating. “Nan,” Tristan scolded, taking the glass from my hand.

  “Hey,” I whined.

  “Relax, if I remember correctly I used to have to hide my bottles from you. Every time you came to visit a few always seemed to disappear after you left.” She narrowed her eyes at him and he just shook his head.

  “Yeah, but I knew what I was getting myself into.”

  “She’s a fighter. She’ll be fine,” she said, smacking my face.

  I blinked my eyes and looked around. “What?” Deirdre started to laugh again and so did I.

  Caleb helped her up. “Come on my love. Let’s get you to bed.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. Come on babe. Let’s go back to the hotel.” I smiled and threw my arms around Tristan’s neck.

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but we’re staying here.”

  “Why?” I whined. “It smells like Metamucil and decaying flesh in there.”

  Tristan laughed when Deirdre narrowed her eyes at me for my comment. “Sorry my love, but come morning you’re not going to be feeling so well and Nan is the only one who knows how to make the antidote.”

  I wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying. I was too distracted by the stars. “Can we sleep out here?”

  Tristan handed me a bottle of blood. “You want to sleep outside?”

  “Under the stars,” I pointed up. “Look how beautiful it is.” It was a possibility I was seeing more than stars, but it just added to the appeal.

  He brushed a thumb across my cheek. I turned and looked into his dark blues eyes. “For you, anything.” He gave me a soft kiss and got up. He walked over to the back of the patio and dragged over a lounge chair big enough for two. He helped me move to the bigger chair and then pointed to the bottle in my hand that I forgot I was holding. “Drink that. It will help. I’m going to go grab some pillows and blankets. I’ll be right back.” I nodded.

  While I waited for him to return, I opened up one of the bottles he gave me and took a sip. Once it hit my lips there was nothing stopping me from taking it all. I saw another bottle next to me and I opened it up empting that one as well. When Tristan returned, he looked at me, and then the empty bottles of blood on the ground. “Ella, there was enough in there for the both of us,” he said, a little surprised.

  “No there wasn’t.” I thought maybe he was kidding until I saw the stunned look on his face. “Oh,” I burped. “Sorry, I was thirsty.” He sighed and then just laid down next to me, putting the pillows and blankets at the end of the bed until we were ready for them. “You know if you’re thirsty you could always…” I pointed to my neck.

  “As much as I would love to, I won’t…I can’t.”

  “Why not?” I pouted.

  “Because I have already taken enough from you and right now is not a good idea. You are not in the right state of mind.”

  Once again I had no idea what he had said. I was too busy trying to catch the orbs again. “What?” I looked at him.

  He just smiled, cupped my chin, and softly pressed his lips to mine. I settled down onto his chest and closed my eyes. “I love you la mia bella stella.”

  “I love you too my wittle Tristan whistin,” I said, just before I passed out.

  Chapter Eleven

  When I opened my eyes I had to squint from the bright sun shining down on me. I turned over and saw Tristan lying peacefully next to me. I smiled and reached for him when suddenly my head felt like I slammed it into a brick wall. “Ah,” I winced, waking up Tristan.

  “What is it what’s wrong?” he asked panicked.

  “My head, oh god my head is pounding.” I closed my eyes tight and gripped the sides.

  Tristan reached up and placed his fingers lightly on my temples. “I can’t make the pain go away completely but I can lesson it.” When he was done, I let him take me in his arms and relaxed calmly against his chest.

 
He was right. The pain did lessen but did not go away completely. “Why can’t you heal me?”

  “Because of the magic in the whiskey.”

  “Your grandmother puts magic in her whiskey?”

  “It gives it a little extra kick,” he smiled. “I guess you don’t remember me telling you it was magically enhanced.”

  “When did you tell me that?”

  “Last night.”

  “Oh, yeah, last night is kind of a blur. I didn’t do anything stupid did I?” I cringed, having very little memory of last night.

  “Nothing too embarrassing,” he smirked. “Don’t worry I took video.”

  I buried my face in my hands. “Let me see.” I tried reaching in his pocket for his phone.

  “Nope, that’s for my own private collection.” I gave him my annoyed look. “You really want to see yourself dancing naked under the moonlight?”

  “Stop it. No I didn’t.”

  “It was pretty hot.” He took his phone from his pocket. “I wonder how much money I could get for this? Maybe I should upload it to YouTube.”

  “Don’t you dare!” I reached for his phone but he pulled it away and kept it just out of my reach. “Tristan I swear –”

  “I’m kidding,” he said laughing. I narrowed my eyes at him. “You have no worries. I would never do that.”

  “Did I really do that?” I asked nervously.

  “No. I was just kidding, but now that I mentioned it…”

  “No.”

  He chuckled and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. “Let’s go inside and I’ll make you something to help get rid of your headache.”

  Tristan whipped up some concoction and made me drink it. The smell alone made me want to vomit. “Just drink it,” he said, rolling his eyes and then proceeded to make me breakfast. While I sat in the chair sipping my drink and waiting for my food, Deirdre walked into the kitchen looking like she always did – mean. I looked at her afraid maybe last night was a dream. She turned her head to me, smirked, and then winked. I relaxed back in my chair and smiled.

  “What are you doing?” Deirdre said to Tristan shooing him away.

  “I was making my beautiful love breakfast,” he said, smiling at me.

  “Get.” She pushed him away and took over. No longer with anything to do, he walked over to me, picked me up, and placed me on his lap. I laid my head on his shoulder and breathed in his sweet, minty scent. Josef entered the kitchen, took one look at Tristan and me, and then turned right around and left.

  “Josef,” Deirdre scolded. “Sit.”

  “No thanks. I lost my appetite.”

  “Sit,” Deirdre glared. Josef was no dummy. He knew better than to piss off his grandmother. He took a seat unhappily and crossed his arms letting us know he was not in the chatting mood. Not wanting to make things worse, I got up and sat in my own chair. Tristan looked at me and I gave him a look that said I would explain later.

  To help diffuse the awkward silence I asked Deirdre if she needed any help. “From you? Huh, you’re no help,” she said. I just rolled my eyes and let it go. “Josef, set the table.”

  Caleb joined us shortly and we all sat down to eat. Everyone was silent making it quite an awkward breakfast. When we were done Deirdre made me do the dishes – I see some things haven’t changed. While I did the dishes and Deirdre watched – telling me everything I was doing wrong – Tristan told me he was going to go talk to Josef. I told him I thought that was a good idea.

  *

  Tristan

  “Josef, can I talk to you?” Tristan asked, knocking lightly on his bedroom door.

  “I have nothing to say to you so you can leave,” he said, turning away from him.

  “Look, I don’t know what I did to piss you off but I think I at least deserve an explanation.”

  “Don’t pretend to be this good guy when we all know you’re really a prick,” he huffed. “Ella might not be able to see through your bullshit but I can.”

  “Ah, I see,” Tristan said, walking over to the lounge by the window. “So this is about Ella. You don’t think I’m good enough for her,” he let out a breath. “And you’re right. I’m not.”

  Josef finally turned to look at him, but only to see if he was being sincere or playing another one of his games. “Look Josef, I love Ella. I love her more than anything and anyone in this world. I would die for her. She is my everything and I don’t deserve someone like her.”

  “No you don’t,” he spat.

  “I understand how you feel. I was a prick. Hell, I still am,” he laughed. “But I would never hurt Ella and trust me, I’m pretty sure she could kick my ass if I did.” Josef’s lips twitched slightly. “You can believe me or not, but don’t take it out on Ella. She doesn’t deserve it.” Tristan waited for a response or some kind of nod, but when he got nothing he stood up to leave.

  “Do you love her, truly love her?” Josef asked.

  “Yes, I do.”

  Josef looked at his cousin as if giving him a silent understanding. Tristan left the room without another word.

  *

  Ella

  I had finished the dishes and was sitting at the table with Deirdre drinking tea. She wasn’t speaking to me. Not for any reason in particular, it was because she preferred the silence and well, it was Deirdre.

  I knew Tristan was back before I even turned around. “How’d it go?” I asked.

  “Fine,” he said, kissing my cheek. “What do you want to do today?”

  “I should probably call Dean and let him know where I am before he thinks you kidnapped me or killed me. I’m surprised he’s not already screaming in my head for me to call him.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want to pay the long distance charges.” I rolled my eyes at Tristan’s lame joke. “Don’t worry. I already called him,” he said.

  That would explain the radio silence. “Thank you,” I smiled. “So what do you want to do?”

  Tristan smiled cockily at me and started sending me images. I smacked him on the chest. “You two,” Deirdre said. “Are coming with me.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked as she shoved us out the door.

  “To see Pita.”

  “Nan no,” Tristan pleaded.

  “Who’s Pita?”

  “One of Nan’s ‘psychic’ friends.” He air quoted the word psychic as an exaggeration of his disbelief. The look on his face told me he was not amused.

  “You ask too many questions,” Deirdre complained as we walked down the street. We walked a couple of blocks and I wanted to ask where this place was but kept my mouth shut for fear of getting yelled at again. Several minutes later, we finally arrived at our destination. All the lights were turned off and the place looked empty.

  “Is anyone even here?” I asked. “She doesn’t look like she’s open.”

  “Maybe she predicted she wouldn’t be busy today and closed early,” Tristan said with a smartass smirk. Deirdre glared at him and knocked on the door. Two minutes later a tiny, elderly woman dressed like a gypsy answered. She looked at us, then peered outside looking all around, then she jerked her head for us to follow her inside. I looked at Tristan unsure. He rolled his eyes, took my hand, and followed her in.

  The place was dark and it was hard to see where I was going. From the little light that did shine through the dingy red curtains, I could see that the furniture she did have was old and antique looking. The rooms were small and cluttered with all types of crystals, plants, and things in jars I was too afraid to ask what they were.

  The gypsy woman led us into a room in the back. In the center of the room was a round table with a black paisley table cloth draped over it. In the center of the table was a brown wooden bowl filled with all different kinds of stones. There was a chandelier above us filled with half melted candles and a purple velvet couch in the corner.

  Pita gestured for us to have a seat at the table while she sat in the chair across from us. I had no idea what to expect or why were even here in the first pl
ace, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was curious. I remembered Ms. Kraft telling me I should be able to figure out how to weed out the fakes, but I was having a hard time reading this one. I decided to just sit back and enjoy the show.

  Pita folded her hands together and placed them on the table closing her eyes. I grabbed Tristan’s hand and held it tightly under the table. Pita exhaled and all the candles on the chandelier lit at once. Deirdre smiled at my jaw dropped expression. I quickly closed my mouth and returned my eyes to the gypsy woman. “You,” Pita said. “You exude power.” Her accent was thick, but not Irish. I couldn’t quite place it, but if I had to guess I would say she was Romanian.

  She looked me over like she was sizing me up. “Where does your power come from?”

  I looked at Tristan confused. “She wants to know if it’s your own or if you stole it,” Tristan thought. I gawked. I was appalled that she would accuse me of such a heinous thing. Sensing my agitation Tristan explained. “Having as many powers as you do is unheard of. People with that many have normally stole them.” I narrowed my eyes at her.

  She turned to Tristan than. “You hide behind your mask,” she said. Tristan was not amused with her comment. He shifted in his chair indicating his annoyance to have to sit here and endure this. Pita then looked between the both of us. “You two share a bond,” she said more as statement than a question.

  I turned to Tristan, unsure of what she was talking about. His brows were pinched tightly together and he looked ready to bolt at any second. “What do you mean?” I asked her.

  “Yes. I feel it too,” Deirdre said, speaking for the first time since we got here. “How is that so?”

  “Can someone please tell me what is going on?”

  No one answered me making me frustrated. Pita put her hands out on the table inviting Tristan and I to take them. Tristan refused to comply. I gave him a little nudge. He sat up in his chair and placed his hand in Pita’s. When I placed my hand in hers she jerked back. “Sorry,” she said, reaching her hand out for me again. I looked at Tristan. He nodded his head letting me know it was okay. I slowly put my hand back in hers and I could feel her trying hard not to pull away. She closed her eyes and squeezed our hands tight. After an awkward moment of silence she opened her eyes, looking at both of us. “Your bond is a very powerful one,” her eyes darted to Tristan. “It’s because of you it exists.”