The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “Oh, I’m sorry Gran. This is our friend Cameron from school.”

  “Hello Cameron, it’s very nice to meet you.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you too Mrs.?”

  “Please, call me Grandma Bea, everyone else does.” They smiled politely at each other as Gran shook her hand. Gran eyed Cameron suspiciously and then her smile grew. I eyed her, prompting her to let me know what was going on. She just smiled back at me and told Dean to sit up straight.

  Danni finally made her way back to our table and looked just about as happy as I did when she saw Gran. “Grandma Bea!” she cheered, throwing her arms around her. The smell of her breath and the flopping of her arms told me Danni was facing her demons with a fifth of alcohol. I sighed knowing it was going to be a long night.

  “My precious Danni, how are you and that adorable little girl of yours?”

  “I’m fine, she’s fine,” Danni said nonchalantly, taking another glass from a tray as one of the waiters walked by. I stood up and took the glass from her hand. She frowned but didn’t argue with me.

  “You cannot lie to me dear,” Gran said, wagging her finger at Danni.

  “I never could,” Danni smiled bashfully. “But now is not the time.”

  “Well it looks like I made it back in the nick of time,” Gran said, looking between me, Dean, and Danni. I gave her a fishy look and she just patted my shoulder. “Well I guess I should go introduce myself. Ella, Dean, help me up, will you?” With a grunt, Dean helped her up and I walked over with her to meet Jasa.

  Xander gave Gran a great big hug before he introduced her. Gran smiled politely at Jasa, but I knew Gran had her suspicions about her as just as much as I did. I nudged Gran and she just played it off with one her warming smiles, but Gran couldn’t fool me. She might be able to put on a poker face for everyone else, but I knew all her tell signs – after all she was the one who taught me. I made a mental note to grill her about it later.

  Gran didn’t hang around Jasa too long and I couldn’t figure out why, but I did notice she had an uncomfortable look on her face that was very hard to disguise. “Gran, are you okay?” Xander asked and I thought the same thing.

  “Yes, yes honey, I’m fine. Where’s your father?”

  “He’s around here somewhere?” Xander said, craning his neck.

  “I believe I saw him over by the bar talking to the Hendricks,” Jasa said, making Gran shiver.

  “I’ll help you find him,” I said, gripping her arm. Once we were out of earshot, I leaned down close. “Gran, what’s really going on? You don’t look so good.”

  “Nonsense bumble bee. Don’t worry your pretty little head. It’s nothing a stiff drink can’t fix,” she said, trying to make me feel better, but it didn’t lessen my concern.

  When we found my dad she pulled him aside to talk to him in private. They snuck behind a curtain where they felt no one could see or hear them. Curiosity piqued, I tried to slyly sneak over and get close enough so I could eavesdrop. Unfortunately they were speaking Gaelic and the little I knew was not enough to decipher their conversation, but I still tried. I didn’t need to know what they were saying to know this conversation was getting very heated very quickly.

  Gran was shaking her fist at dad, growing hot with rage. I’d never seen her so angry before and the seriousness of her tone was startling. Dad was not one to keep his temper which was surprising to see how calm he was. His shoulders tensed and I knew I spoke too soon. He grabbed Gran’s wrist, leaned down close to her face and growled. I was about to interrupt, but then I would expose myself and it was not wise to piss off my dad more than he already was.

  Gran ripped her hand away from dad and slapped him across the face showing she did not appreciate him acting that way. I gasped and quickly covered my mouth, hiding deeper inside the curtain. I heard a slight shift in my dad’s feet. Silence fell and I wondered what happened. A breeze blew the curtain and I froze in place. I thought for sure I was busted. I counted to ten before I peered back out from behind the curtain. My dad was gone, but Gran was still there with her back to me. I waited a few minutes to see if she would rejoin the party, but when she didn’t move I got a little worried.

  I bit my nails, waiting for the right moment to approach her. She gripped the wall and clenched her heart with her hand. “Grandma Bea!” I shouted, running to her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing sweetheart,” she padded her chest. “Just my old ticker,” she smiled. “Sometimes takes a bit to keep up with the rest of me,” she winked.

  “Gran, sit down,” I insisted.

  “No need to make such a fuss.”

  “Sit,” I said, moving a chair over to her with the wiggle of my finger.

  She smirked at me and had a seat. “I see you get your stubbornness from your father.”

  “Give me your hand,” I said, holding out mine. I placed her hand over my heart and then mine over hers. I closed my eyes and concentrated on healing her; all her aches and pains, her ailments, and everything else that might be bothering her.

  As soon as I felt it start to work she pulled away from me. “Ella dear, no,” she said, shaking her head. “I appreciate it, but this isn’t something you can fix with magic.”

  “Sure it is, watch.” I put my hand back over her heart.

  She pulled my hand away and held it in hers. “Thank you, but this is a part of life. You need to understand that. You need to know your magic is a gift and is not to be used recklessly.”

  “But I’m not. I’m helping you.”

  “You would be helping me more if you didn’t try to heal me.” I looked at her confused. “Ella, I’m past the time of magical healing. If Death sees fit for it to be my time to go then it’s my time to go. No amount of magic is going to keep me here. Maybe for a little while, but it would just prolong the inevitable. Do you understand sweetie?”

  I nodded. “But Gran you’re talking as if you’ll be gone tomorrow or like I’m about to heal a terminal illness. I just want to make you feel a little better not cure cancer.”

  “I know honey, but I promise I’ll be fine. Nothing a stiff drink can’t fix,” she said, smacking my hand.

  “Gran, you say that about everything.” I rolled my eyes as I helped her up.

  “Well it’s the truth. Now let’s hurry up before Dean finishes off the good scotch.”

  No wonder this family has a drinking problem. She pinched my side and I squealed. “Ow, what was that for,” I whined, trying not to cry. That really hurt.

  “I heard that,” she said, narrowing her eyes at me. I just shook my head and walked her back into the party.

  I spent the rest of the night listening to stories about Gran’s adventures and entertaining guests by telling them about the prestigious college I was accepted to in January. Well that’s what my dad was telling everyone. I just went along with it to please him. Before the night was up my mom insisted on getting a group picture of the family. She had already snapped a million pictures during the night. I was exhausted and no longer in the mood to smile. My face was hurting from the fake smile I had plastered on my face the whole night. I didn’t think I had the strength left to keep it up. “Just a little bit longer,” my mom said, sensing my unease.

  She then asked me to go find Dean for the photos. I sighed and walked back to the table where Cameron was sitting and asked her if she had seen him. She told me last she checked he was at the bar. I knew I should have checked there first.

  Dean wasn’t at the bar like we thought, so I decided the next best place would be the bathroom. I figured might as well check and use the facilities while I was there.

  The ladies room door was locked, which I thought was odd. I was about to search for another bathroom when I overheard someone inside. Being the nosy person I was, I pressed my ear to the door and tried to listen carefully. “You said you would take care of it,” the person said. There was a pause, indicating they were talking on the phone. “Well obviously you aren’t doing a
good job.” I couldn’t tell who the voice belonged to. It was too muffled by the thick wooden door, but still clear enough that I could understand what they were saying.

  “I’m tired of waiting,” they continued. “I guess if you want things done right you have to do them yourself.” I heard the clicking of heels and I jumped back into the shadows so I wouldn’t be seen. I took the risk of being caught by popping my head out to see who it was when I saw Dean come out of the guy’s bathroom. I quickly buried my head back into the darkness.

  “Dean,” Jasa said startled. “I was just looking for you. We’re about to start pictures.” He put out his arm to escort her back into the dining area. That was weird and who was Jasa talking to? My thoughts were cut short when my dad called for me. “Ella, we’re waiting on you,” he projected.

  I rolled my eyes and walked back to join everyone else. Dean grabbed me and pulled me close to him, I think more so for balance. “Don’t forget to smile,” he said. He shot me a look that said he wasn’t enjoying this anymore than I was. “God, who is Jenks fooling with that hairpiece. It looks like something he scraped off the side of the road.” I tried to muffle my laugh, but my dad shot a glare in my direction making me straighten up. “Uh oh, look out Ella. Dad has his stern face on. Now wait, watch, soon the vein will start to pulse, and then, there on the side of the head a small trickle of sweat will start to drip down.” Dean was so on point it was hard not to smile. Dad eyed us suspiciously, no doubt thinking we were drunk – well Dean was. Thankfully he was distracted by one of his colleagues.

  I had a hard time keeping a straight face while we waited for everyone to gather for the pictures. Dean kept projecting in my head. He would imitate the conversation Dad was having with all the guests by mocking him. He would make up something, imitating dad’s voice, and then do the same with whoever he was talking to. I snickered and dad turned to glare at us over his shoulder. “Take cover!” Dean yelled in my head like we were under attack. He yanked me down behind the people in front of us and I let out a tiny yelp.

  “What are you doing?” I laughed. He pressed his hands to his lips for me to be quiet. I didn’t know what he was up to, but I felt like an idiot crouched down on the floor. “You know he can probably hear us.”

  “Yes I can,” Dad said, making us both jump. I pulled Dean up off the floor and he gripped on to me to keep himself from falling over. Dad narrowed his eyes at both of us not happy about our behavior.

  “Look, there it is, the vein, the sweat,” Dean projected. I lost it. No longer able to hold in my laughter. I let it all go and if felt so good. My dad looked at us like we had completely lost our minds.

  “Did you two take something?” he spat accusingly.

  “God dad, no.” He gripped our arms and stared right at us. I stopped laughing instantly. He looked at me and then Dean and let go. “Knock it off,” he said. He took the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the bit of sweat, then cleared his throat when he looked at us. I couldn’t help but laugh. Dad, embarrassed, walked away. He joined mom in the front and whispered a few things in her ear. She peeked over her shoulder and then back at dad letting out a small laugh. He frowned and she slapped his shoulder playfully. Dean and I started to snicker again until dad projected at us to knock it off.

  “Thanks Dean. I needed that,” I said softly.

  He bumped me with his shoulder. “I know,” he winked and then threw his arm over me and kissed my hair.

  After the pictures were finally over, I unscrewed my smile by moving my jaw around. My face hurt so bad from laughing with Dean and being forced to smile for these pictures. Before I had the chance to hit the bar with Dean, Jasa grabbed me and pulled me aside. “I am so happy you were able to make it tonight,” she said, embracing me in a hug. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you all night, but Xander had me meeting so many friends and colleagues I haven’t had the chance.”

  “It’s okay,” I said. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “Well, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honor?”

  “Seriously?” I said shocked.

  “Well as you know, I don’t have any family and not many friends and what better person to stand at my side then my future sister-in-law,” she smiled, hopeful.

  “I don’t know what to say?” Actually I really wanted to say no way. I think my brother should be marrying Danni instead of you, but that wasn’t fair. I didn’t know Jasa well enough and should give her a chance.

  Her eyes pleaded with me to say yes. “She’d loved to,” Dean said, speaking up for me and giving me a slight nudge.

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Great,” she cheered, hugging me again. “I’m going to tell Xander the great news.”

  I turned to Dean. “Since when you were on team Jasa?” I asked.

  “I’m not, I just…something is off about this whole thing. This isn’t like Xander and she is not his type. He should have never let Danni go.”

  I looked at him wide eyed. “You know?” I said softly.

  “Please, Ella, the only idiot who doesn’t is Xander. He’s too blinded by stupidity to see what’s right in front of him.” We both looked to the table where Danni was sitting.

  I sighed and turned back to Dean. “If you know, then why do you keep hitting on her?” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Because I’m a dick,” he shrugged, giving me a half smile.

  “Shouldn’t we do something?”

  Dean took a step closer. “Nah li’l sis,” he threw his arm over me. “It’s too late for Xander. Something dark and sinister is at work here.”

  I looked at him a little frightened. “What are you talking about? You think Jasa is evil?”

  “Just in the sack,” he smiled.

  “God you are such a pig!” I yelled, pushing him away from me. He laughed all the way over to the bar.

  Jasa returned, telling me they wanted me for more pictures. I stifled an eye roll as she grabbed my wrist. She flinched and pulled her hand back clenching it tight to her chest. I swear I even heard her hiss. When I looked up into her eyes I instantly took a step back. I shook my head and closed my eyes. No, I was just imagining it. It couldn’t be real.

  I looked back up and knew my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. Jasa’s eyes were glowing gold. It was like everything was happening in slow motion as realization hit me on what I was seeing. “Jasa,” Xander called. As quickly as they glowed they returned to normal and she turned around to join Xander as if nothing happened.

  Still in shock I looked down at my arm that was still suspended in the air – the one that wore my grandmother’s bracelet. Jasa flinched when she touched it. It shocked her, which was normal, but her reaction wasn’t. “The burn,” I said. I pushed through the sea of people to where she was standing with Xander. I reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling it behind her, and I was right.

  There it was.

  A burn mark in the shape of an X on Jasa’s lower wrist.

  My eyes widened in surprise. She tried to tear her arm away but I held on tight. “Ella, what are you doing?” Xander glared, ready to ream me out, but was cut short when he saw the bracelet start to glow. He threw his hand over my wrist. “Excuse us,” he said, yanking me out of the room, forcing me to drop Jasa’s arm.

  “Xander, what the hell?”

  He pointed to the bracelet. “You tell me.”

  The bracelet started to jingle and the glow slowly started to get brighter. “Get Gran. Get her now!” I said panicked. Before he could retreat back into the dining area Gran was by my side.

  “What’s going on?” she asked. I held up the bracelet.

  “Oh?”

  “Jasa touched it,” I said, looking at Gran not able to meet Xander’s eyes. I didn’t know how to break it to him that his fiancé was evil. “Xander I’m sorry but Jasa is –” standing right behind him. Gran pulled my arm behind my back to hide the bracelet that was glowing even brighter now.

  “Ella I’m sorry.
I don’t know why I acted that way.”

  “Look at her hands!” I shouted. Not the best way to break it to Xander but it was the only opportunity I had to prove it to them.

  Xander narrowed his eyes at me, not happy with my behavior, and then turned to Jasa worried. “It’s okay, I’m fine,” she said. “The air is very dry in there so when I touched Ella it was just a shock from static. No big deal,” she smiled, turning over her hands. I leaned over to look at her wrists which revealed nothing but smooth, milk white skin. There was no mark, no burn, nothing.

  “Xander dear, would you go get Cameron and Dean and let them know we’re ready to leave.”

  “Of course Gran.” He nodded to her but then glared at me one more time before he wrapped his arm around Jasa and walked back into the party.

  She let go of my arm and I looked at her confused. “Gran, I’m not crazy. She had a mark. I saw it.”

  Before she could say anything Dean and Cameron were by our side. “Xander said you were ready to go?” His eyes darted down to my bracelet. “Well that’s new.”

  “Dean, I’m going to need your help. I have to –”

  “Gran wait –”

  “I believe you Ella, I do.”

  “You do?” I asked, feeling a small sense of relief.

  “Yes, but I need you to relax because it’s not just the bracelet, it’s you that’s doing this.” I looked at her with a big question mark on my head. “The power inside of you is what is adding to the power of the protection bracelet.” She turned to Dean. “You ready?” He nodded.

  “Ready for what?” I asked a little panicked. Dean stood behind me and Gran took a step forward grabbing my wrist with the bracelet and then put her hand on my forehead.

  “I’m sorry bumble bee, but this is the only way.” My eyes darted all around the room, scared of what was going on. Gran closed her eyes and whispered a few words in Gaelic and before I knew it I was very, very tired. So tired I could barely stand.

  Dean caught me before I hit the floor. “Well, that worked faster than I thought. I guess this old girl still got some tricks up her sleeve,” Gran smiled. Dean and Cameron helped carry me to the car. That was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.