The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “How so?” I asked.

  She grabbed Cameron’s hands and turned them over. “See Cameron has no mark from the shock. An evil being it will shock and leave a burn scar.”

  “That’s good to know,” I said, running my fingers over the dangling charms.

  “And good to know I’m not evil,” Cameron winked.

  “I knew you weren’t evil.” Cameron eyed me. “Okay, maybe a little bit,” I confessed. She threw me a half smile and I giggled.

  “Okay girls, we only have until six before we have to leave for the party so that gives you an hour to get ready,” my mom said. “Chop, chop,” she clapped her hands leaving the room.

  “If you want you can raid my closet for something to wear while I take a shower,” I told Cameron. I already knew my mom had bought Danni a dress for tonight.

  “Sweet,” Cameron said, jumping off the bed.

  I stepped into the bathroom and went to empty out my pockets before I got undressed when I found Josie’s heart charm. I had forgotten I put it in there when I tore off Tristan’s watch. Before we left Ireland I had taken it off and mailed it back to his grandparents. I didn’t want anything that reminded me of him. I still had the star necklace he gave me, but that’s only because I couldn’t bear to take it off. I could feel my heart start to break all over again and the tears in my eyes. I gripped the sink and pounded my fist down, hard. I would not let him get to me. I will not let him take me down again. I managed to get a grip and got undressed.

  After my shower, I got dressed, and dried my hair. Cameron had chosen the purple dress I wore to the initiation at the sorority house. I thought I had gotten rid of it along with a lot of things from that nightmare time, but I guess that one must of have slipped through the cracks. I told her she could keep it. It looked better on her anyways and brought back too many bad memories.

  I put on the finishing touches and told everyone I would meet them down stairs. I went to put the charm bracelet back on, but before I did I decided to add my own little addition. The second I hooked on Josie’s charm there was a bright, blue flash and a blast that threw into my closet, knocking the wind out of me. My eyes fluttered as I tried to stay conscious.

  I heard what sounded like a herd of elephants rushing up the stairs. Everyone came barreling into my room to see what just happened. “Ella, Ella,” I heard my dad say.

  “Is she breathing?” my mom asked.

  “Back up, everyone back up and give her some room.” I blinked and saw my dad bending over me. He lifted me up and carried me over to my bed. “Ella honey, Ella,” my dad said gently.

  I looked around at everyone hovering around me. “Geez um, I’m not dead people. Could you back up so I can breathe a little?” My dad chuckled and everyone gave me some space. I sat up and grabbed my head. “OOohh, my head.” I pressed my palms to my temples while everyone stood there and watched me expectantly. “I’m okay. You can stop staring now.”

  “What happened?” my dad asked concerned.

  “I’m not sure. I was putting the heart charm from Josie on the bracelet and the next thing I knew I was blasted back into the closet.” I looked over at the bracelet on the floor. I got up to get it.

  “Ella, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” my dad said, just as I picked it up. He looked at me and then at the bracelet.

  I held it up and this time I saw blue, silver, red, and purple flashes. “Well that’s new.”

  My dad came over to me and took the bracelet. “I think we should figure out what happened before you put this back on,” he said a little worried.

  “It’s not hurting me or you.”

  “Liam, I don’t see the harm in her wearing it for now. I think it will be fine and we’ll see your mother tonight so we can ask her what happened.”

  “I guess, but I do want to find out what caused it to act that way. Maybe there’s something wrong with the spell?” He wrinkled his forehead, deep in thought. “Maybe we need to redo it?” I held out my wrist for him to help me put it on. He hesitated before he snapped the bracelet around my wrist. The moment he closed the clasp he took a step back, eyes wide.

  Everyone was staring at me, mouths open. “What? Great is my hair a mess? Do I have something on my face?”

  “Ella…you’re glowing,” my dad said in awe.

  “Ah crap, not again.” I looked down at my hands, yep, glowing.

  “This has happened before?” I nodded. Dean and Cameron were the only ones who had witnessed my glow before. Both looked unimpressed. “How do you make it stop?” Xander asked, squinting at the bright light.

  “Hello?” Jasa called from the bottom of the stairs. Everyone froze, not sure what to do. We heard her come up the steps and Xander quickly jumped off the bed and closed the door behind him before Jasa entered. He convinced her to head out to the party while letting her know the rest of us wouldn’t be far behind.

  When we knew they were gone, my dad turned to me and asked, “Ella, do you know how to stop it?”

  “I think so, just give me a minute.” I closed my eyes and tried to remember what Ms. Kraft had done to help me last time. Think happy thoughts, I said to myself and then Peter Pan and Tinker Bell flashed into my head. Okay, that wasn’t going to work. I took a breath and let it out trying to clear my head and of course the first thing that came to mind was Tristan. My anger instantly flared and I could feel myself getting hot.

  “Um Ella, you might want to try something else,” my mom suggested. I opened my eyes and saw that I was glowing even brighter than before. Damn it. I closed my eyes and tried again. Think calm thoughts – family. I could feel my body start to relax and calm down.

  I opened my eyes and my dad was smiling. “Good job honey,” he said, resting a kind hand on my shoulder.

  “You think you’ll be okay to go to the party?” my mom asked.

  “Yeah, it only seems to happen when I channel a lot of power, but I didn’t channel any power?” I scratched my head looking at the bracelet. “Oh no…I don’t…oh God…do I?” I threw my hands to my head and ran to the mirror in the bathroom. I sighed relieved when I saw my normal streaks in the front – two on each side. Cameron came up behind me and handed me another mirror, and then turned me around. Yep, there it was, another blue streak down the back. “Damn it!” Cameron tried to hide her smile. I glared at her.

  “It’s not that bad.”

  “Is everything okay?” my mom asked concerned.

  “Fine,” I mumbled, getting an ‘oh,’ gasp when I walked past her.

  “Well that’s new,” my dad said

  “Yeah, I’m getting used to it,” I sighed, falling on the bed.

  “Does this mean you got a new power?”

  “No, just a new streak. I glow, I get a streak,” I pointed to my hair.

  My dad rubbed his chin and looked at me like I was some kind of science experiment. Sensing an inquisition I wasn’t ready for, Cameron came to my rescue. “How about we worry about it later?” She linked her arm through mine pulling me off the bed. “I’m in the mood for a party.”

  When we got to the car, my mom pulled me aside. “Are you sure you’re okay? If you’re not up to it you can stay home. I’m sure Xander will understand.”

  “Honestly mom, I’m fine.”

  She put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Ella, I felt a lot of hostility and…heartache,” she looked at me with sadness in her eyes. “What happened in Ireland?” she asked softly.

  “Now is not the time,” I snapped. She recoiled from the harshness in my voice. I opened my mouth to say sorry, but nothing came out.

  “I know,” was all she said before wrapping her arms around me. “When you’re ready, you let me know.” I nodded. That was the best I could give her.

  “Girls, there will be plenty of time for hugging later. We’re going to be late,” my dad complained. I rolled my eyes and got in the car beside Cameron. “Seriously Jamila, you’re smothering them. No wonder they always want to leave.” My mom gawked at my
dad and I could see the slightest smile tug at the corner of his lips.

  “Oh dad,” I shook my head. He was on his own for that one. I knew my mom wanted to give it to my dad for his comment – joke or not – but with Cameron in the car she kept her cool.

  When we arrived at the club I heard my mom whisper to my dad, “Keep it up and you’ll be sleeping on the couch.” I tried to hide my laugh but was unsuccessful. My dad turned around and glared at me. I quickly wiped the smile from my face.

  I paused just inside the hall doors. I was not ready when we arrived. Most of everyone that would be there was from our side of the family since Jasa said she really didn’t have any. I hadn’t seen my extended family in a while and wasn’t quite sure I was ready to face them. Knowing what we were and what they are, how was I supposed to act? Not to mention I was sure the rumors of my latest escapades were floating around and I wasn’t in the mood to answer questions. I also wasn’t sure what I could and couldn’t say .There would be a lot of Xander and Dad’s colleagues and friends there and I was sure they weren’t all supernatural.

  Before we walked inside I pulled my mom aside. “Hey mom, so..um,” I started, not sure how to come out with it.

  “Not everyone in there is a vampire,” she said smiling.

  “Wait, how’d you?”

  “I’m your mother, remember,” she winked. “And as far as everyone else here is concerned, we are all human.” She took my hand and squeezed it, leading me inside with her.

  I held my breath and let out a small gasp as soon as we stepped through the doors. I’d never seen the club so decked out before. All different types of Lilies on the tables with candles lit up encircling the vases. The table clothes were white with lace draped over them, chairs in a tacky gold cloth that tied into a bow in the back, sparkly lights, crystal, and the highest quality china you could find anywhere. “Wow Danni, you did all this?” I asked.

  “Well, Cameron helped,” she said.

  “Everything looks great, well everything except the gold clothed chairs,” I cringed.

  “Yeah, not my choice,” Danni said, making a face.

  “You sure you wanna do this?” I asked her.

  “Gonna have to face it sooner or later. Why not start now?” she said braver than I would have. We both braced ourselves as we stepped into the swarm of people – plastering on our best fake smiles. I was attacked the minute I ascended the stairs; Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, family friends and colleagues. I barely got a word in and most of what I said was, ‘this is my friend Cameron’ and ‘Yes, I’m doing well.’

  A few of Xander’s buddies hit on me, saying how ‘grown up’ I looked. I bit my tongue, smiled, and ignored their, not always, so subtle attempts at flirting. It was getting harder to keep up the charade with all the nasty thoughts they were thinking. One of his friends was contemplating bending me over a table somewhere in the back. I couldn’t help myself. I smacked him hard on the arm, gave him a nasty look, and stomped off leaving him wondering what the hell just happened.

  Xander saw the mixed expressions on his friend’s faces and walked over to me. “What the hell is going on?” he spat accusingly.

  “What is going on is that your friends are a bunch of perverts,” I pointed, glaring over Xander’s shoulder at them.

  He turned around and laughed, shrugging his shoulders, and dismissing my weird behavior. When he turned back to me his smile faded and he pushed me out the door. “Okay, tell me what happened and I want to know the truth. If they did or said anything to make you feel uncomfortable I will handle it,” he said in a sincere brotherly tone.

  “No one said anything, really.” He looked at me confused. I rolled my eyes knowing this would bite me in the ass. “I heard what they were thinking,” I tapped my head.

  “Jesus Ella, seriously,” he threw his hands up frustrated.

  “Okay, I know, but Xander you should have heard Zach. The details of what he wanted to do with his…thing and…me.” I shuddered at the last thought he had.

  He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Zach is a dick and I’m sorry you had to hear that, but Ella, you have to be more careful,” he stressed.

  “I know, I know. It’s not easy you know.”

  “I’m sorry,” he sighed. His face softened and he looked at me. “Just avoid them if you can.”

  “That won’t be a problem.”

  He pulled me closer to him for a hug and I relaxed a little. “I’ll just say…you had a spasm or something.”

  “Oh great,” I laughed. He smiled at me before he headed back inside. I decided to stay outside and enjoy some of the fresh air. Lately, it wasn’t so often I got a few moments to myself so I wanted to take the time and enjoy the quiet. The swarm of people and all their thoughts were overwhelming. I was just starting to get a handle on that power. I haven’t had a chance to test it with so many people in one room. Most of my family had their minds automatically closed off, but for the rest of our guests it would take over and become an over load. Anytime anyone would open the door to sneak around the side to smoke I would get an explosion of conversations colliding inside my head.

  My head started to hurt and I rubbed my temples hoping for some relief. To my surprise the relief came in a large glass filled with champagne. “I thought you could use this,” Danni said, handing me a glass. I took the flute and gulped down it’s contents in one sip. “That bad, huh?”

  I looked around to make sure no one else was around. “How much do you actually know about all the vampire stuff?”

  “Well, I guess the basics, why?”

  “Nothing…I just…”

  “Having a hard time adjusting?”

  “Something like that,” I sighed.

  “We all have our own demons. Yours is more in the literal sense.”

  “I’m not a demon,” I said, pouting and she laughed.

  “I didn’t mean you specifically. I guess what I meant to say was when something’s new it’s hard in the beginning, but you’ll get through it. I know you will,” she smiled and squeezed my hand. “You ready to go back in or do you need some more time?”

  “I just need a few more minutes.”

  “Okay, I guess I should go back in.”

  “You don’t have to. You can stay.”

  “Like I said, we all have our own demons and mine is in there,” she smiled bravely as she reentered the room.

  I spent about another fifteen minutes outside and then made my way back in. I needed to learn how to get a grip on my power and it was as good a time as any to try. I thought back to my powers class, remembering the breathing techniques. I took a few deep breaths and mentally prepared myself before I reentered the party.

  I managed to slip back in without anyone stopping me. I sat down at the table with Dean who was already on his third glass of scotch and Cameron who seemed bored out of her mind. “You doing okay?” I asked her. I couldn’t imagine that this was any fun for her.

  “Yeah,” she smiled genuinely. “Your family is…interesting.”

  “To say the least,” I smiled back, nudging her with my elbow. Cameron gave me a small laugh, letting me know she was doing alright.

  “Ella Alexandra McCallister,” called a familiar and warming voice.

  I turned around and sure enough there she was. My smile grew as I jumped out of my chair. “Grandma Bea,” I shrieked, throwing my arms around her. She was my favorite grandmother. I didn’t see her much because she was always traveling. Saying she needed to see the world before her time was up. Knowing what I knew now, I was curious as to how old she really was.

  “That I will never tell,” she winked. I was about to ask her how when I realized of course she could read minds. She was my father’s mother. “So you know,” she said, squeezing my shoulders and I nodded.

  “How long are you here for?” I asked a little desperately. Seeing her made me not want to let her go. I missed her so much and needed her around, for little while at least.

  “You know I don�
�t like to stay in one place for too long,” she smiled, but then her smile faded when she saw my expression.

  “Right,” I said sighing.

  She reached up and touched my cheek gently. “I might make an exception if a certain little bumble bee needs me.”

  “I don’t want to ruin your plans.”

  Her hand slipped down to my chin and she cupped it, lifting my head to meet her eyes. “Hush. Nothing is more important than my family. Especially my little bumble bee,” she said, kissing my cheek. I hugged her again before she turned her attention to Dean. “Dean Patrick, you better get up and give me a hug. I’m old you know, if I bend down I might not get back up.”

  I laughed as Dean got up to give her a hug. “Hi Grandma Bea,” he said, smiling for the first time tonight. Grandma Bea kind of had that effect on everyone. She pinched his cheeks making him blush and then stole his drink. He opened his mouth to protest, but she gave him her always stern, don’t mess with grandma look. I tried to hide my smile as I pulled out a chair for her. Dean signaled for the waiter to bring him another drink and told him to make it a double.

  “So what’s this fiancé like?” Grandma Bea asked.

  “She’s nice,” I said.

  “Just nice, what’s wrong with her?” she asked, knowing full well I was holding something back.

  I shrugged. “I just don’t know her all that well,” I said.

  “But?” she pushed.

  “But I kind of have this weird feeling. It’s probably nothing. Just me being silly,” I smiled. I never told anyone about the strange feeling I got around Jasa. I just figured at first it was a natural instinct. Sort of like the protective sister coming out in me, but when the feeling slowly started to grow I decided to keep a cautious eye on her. I kept it to myself because I didn’t want to start trouble in case I was overreacting.

  Grandma Bea slid her seat closer to mine and leaned in. “Always trust your gut. Even if you think it’s nothing, always trust your instincts,” she said, staring straight into my eyes. “Promise me Ella.”

  “I promise.” I smiled, feeling a slight twinge in my stomach.

  “Great,” she said, finishing off her drink. “Now, who is this lovely lady?” she looked at Cameron.