The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “Fine,” I said, walking over to Riley. “Riley?” I could feel my hands start to shake. My lip began to quiver. “I can’t do this.” I walked away, but Dean caught up to me.

  “You can do this Ella. I know you can.”

  “But I never did it before.”

  “Try it on me first,” he suggested.

  I looked over his shoulder where Roman was still standing with Billy. “No. I have a better idea. Roman!” He jogged over to us. I put my hands on his shoulders and looked straight into his eyes, concentrating. Once I could feel the power start to rise I said, “Punch Dean in the face.”

  “What! This is your brilliant idea?” he said, panicked.

  I turned to Dean. “Don’t move.” He stood there frozen in fear and then I turned back to Roman. “Punch him, now.” And that’s exactly what he did. I got to say it definitely made me feel better.

  “I think it’s safe to say it worked,” Josie said, pushing me back over to Riley.

  “Ella, please,” Riley begged.

  “Riley,” I began. I was no longer able to stop the tears. “Riley, I’m sorry. I don’t want to do this and you have to know I don’t want anyone to get hurt and that this is killing me.”

  I took a breath as the tears spilled down my cheeks. I felt Josie take my hand and I looked back up at Riley. “Riley, you have to forget everything you just saw and heard. You have to forget about the attack on the school. You came here to work on your self-defense and we were just waiting for Gabe to set everything up.” I watched as Riley’s eyes glazed over and then she shook her head and looked up at me.

  “Ella, why are you crying?” she asked.

  “I…uh…”

  “She stubbed her toe,” Josie said.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, turning away, not able to face her anymore and annoyed that was the best answer Josie could come up with. When I reached Dean I had forgotten he was still not able to move. If I had my way I would have let him there all day.

  “You really couldn’t find another way to test your compulsion,” he said, narrowing his eyes and rubbing his jaw.

  “Just be glad it was Roman and not Gabe. Besides, you hit him first so it was only fair he got to hit you back.”

  “Yeah but that was –” I glared at him and he shut up.

  As soon as we knew it was safe, and the compulsion had worked, Gabe and Billy started to set up everything. As far as Riley knew she was just here to work on her self-defense. I managed to pull myself together and get to work. I didn’t do any better today than I did yesterday. Stabbing someone in the heart or cutting off their head was easier said than done. The dummies were made of rubber, but Gabe had explained it would be just as hard on a vampire. I had to manage to get through all the skin and muscle. I also had to learn to avoid bone when I was going for the heart.

  By the end of the session I was worn out – physically and mentally. I even thought about skipping dinner, but I was too hungry. I spent some extra time in the shower. I thought maybe I could wash away the grief, but I knew I was just kidding myself. I didn’t say a word at dinner. I didn’t even complain about the fact that Mackenzie and her group had joined us. Apparently Dean had told her he would take her to the dance and Sienna agreed to join her coven.

  “Ella, are you okay?” Cameron asked.

  “Yeah. I just got a lot of homework to do,” I said, getting up. Not even bothering to finish my dinner. I wasn’t in the mood to socialize and just wanted to be alone.

  When I got back to my room, I lay on my bed, and closed my eyes trying to forget that I was me. “Hey, you awake?” Josie asked, coming into the room. I sat up. “I brought you some food. You didn’t really eat at dinner so I thought you’d be hungry,” she said, sitting next to me and handing me a sandwich.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled in between bites.

  “You wanna talk about it?”

  “What’s there to say? In two days I’m about to face my enemy who created an army just to get to me. And I know people are going to get hurt. Maybe even my friends and I can’t do anything about it.”

  “But you are Ella. You are doing something about it. By telling the teachers and the guardians you did the right thing. They will protect the school. From what Gabe told me they are the best of the best so we have nothing to worry about. Besides, what did I tell you about worrying so much?”

  “That it gives you premature wrinkles,” I sighed.

  There was a knock on the door. “Hey, can I come in?” Roman asked.

  “You can even stay here tonight,” Josie said. I looked at her. “I talked to Billy earlier and I’m staying in his room and you should not be alone.”

  She got up to walk out and I asked, “Aren’t you going to take something to sleep in?”

  “I don’t plan on sleeping,” she said, closing the door behind her.

  “Are you okay?” Roman asked, sitting next to me on the bed.

  I put my sandwich aside and pulled him down on the bed next to me. “Just hold me,” I said, wrapping his arms around me.

  “That I can do,” he smiled.

  We laid there for a while in each other’s arms. I thought about everything that was about to go down in only two days and then I started to kiss Roman. I wanted to forget and I knew kissing him would help. I guess I came on a little too aggressively because he pulled away. “What’s the matter? You don’t want to?”

  “No, I do. It’s just…you’re coming on a little too strong.”

  “I thought you said you like it rough,” I teased, nibbling on his ear.

  “Okay, that’s not fair,” he said. I ran my hands up his shirt and across his chest. Then I took off my shirt and kissed him with so much force I accidentally bit his lip. “What’s gotten into you?”

  “Nothing. I just want to be with you,” I said, trying again, but he pushed me back.

  “Ella, I want to be with you, but not like this.”

  “Like what?” I asked annoyed.

  “I can tell you’re not really into it. It’s like you’re forcing yourself so you can forget.”

  “What’s wrong with wanting to forget?”

  “Ella…”

  “Just forget it. Just go,” I said, turning away from him. I pulled my knees up to my chest and rested my forehead against them. He reached for my shoulder and I pulled away from his touch. He didn’t make a move to leave and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get rid of him easily. Not caring anymore, I let the stress of everything hit me and I started to cry.

  Roman tried to comfort me, but I resisted. I finally gave in when I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. “I know you’re scared and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared too,” he said, caressing my hair. I pulled back to look at him and gently pressed my lips to his. Then I laid my head on his chest as he held me. “That’s the Ella I know and love.”

  I could feel him take a breath and then exhale. “I love you Ella and I don’t care if you love me back, but I want you to know that I do and I mean it.”

  I pulled back, turned his face to mine, and looked into his dark blue eyes. “I love you too.”

  “Don’t say it because you think you have to.”

  “Roman look at me…I’m not just saying it because you did. I mean it. I love you.”

  And I really did.

  He smiled, pressing his lips to mine. We laid back on the bed and ended up making love. Afterwards, as I lay my head in the crook of his neck and ran my fingers up and down his chest he said, “So what made you decide to compel me to punch Dean?”

  “Really? That’s what you’re thinking?”

  He laughed. “Actually, I was thinking about it earlier, but then I got distracted,” he said, rubbing my back.

  “I figured it was only fair. Besides, he needed a good punch to the face.”

  “I guess thank you for the honor.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said, reaching up and placing my hand behind his neck as
I kissed it. I could feel his pulse start to race and I could hear the blood coursing through his veins. I could feel his blood calling to me. I started to nibble on his neck and I felt my fangs come out.

  “Go ahead,” he said breathlessly. “It’s okay. I want you to.” I didn’t hesitate as I sank my teeth into his neck. The pull was too strong for me to hold back. The feel of his blood trickling down my throat was so intense and empowering. It felt so good. It was warm and it tickled as it went down. I bit harder, not seeming to be able to get enough. I knew they said you could get into the other person’s mind if they let you, but I was too distracted to even try. I couldn’t seem to get enough.

  “Ella…Ella,” Roman said panting.

  I managed to pull myself away. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t take too much, did I?”

  “No,” he smiled. His eyes were all glossy. He tangled his hand in my hair and rolled over on top of me, pressing his lips so hard on mine I was gasping for air. I forgot how the endorphins from a bite are so engrossing. I knew how they made the person you bite feel, but I had no idea it was just as intense for the biter.

  The weight of his body on mine was crushing me, but at the same time felt incredible. Every time I saw the wound on his neck from where I had bit him, I wanted to sink my teeth right back in. If it wasn’t for him distracting me with his hungry kisses I would have. I never felt a rush like this before and I never wanted it to stop.

  When the feeling finally wore off, we both laid on our backs panting. “That was…”

  “Amazing,” I finished for him.

  “I only heard about how intense a bite was, but I never imagined it to be like that,” he said.

  “I’m just glad I was able to stop,” I said, reaching for him and pulling him to me.

  “I knew you could,” he smiled, brushing the hair off of my face.

  “But I almost didn’t,” I said, embarrassed at letting myself get so out of control like that.

  “It’s always hard your first time. When you first get a taste for it you feel like you don’t want to stop. Like you can’t seem to get enough.”

  “Have you ever bitten someone before?” He nodded. “Oh.”

  “It wasn’t like that though. It was different…I mean I still felt the attraction, but not like I felt it with you.” He brushed his thumb across my cheek. “I love you,” he whispered, kissing my lips.

  “I love you too.” I looked at his neck that was bruised and covered in dry blood. “Oh my, I didn’t realize I bit you that hard.”

  “I didn’t mind,” he smiled. “But I should teach you how to close the wound.” I looked at him puzzled. “After you drink from someone you run your tongue over the bite so it stops the bleeding and closes the wound. It also helps it look less noticeable. It was partially my fault. I didn’t give you the chance,” he said.

  “Lucky for you this is where my nifty little healing power comes in handy,” I said, placing my hand over his bite.

  “I knew I was with you for a reason.”

  “Shut up,” I said, snuggling up close to him.

  Chapter twenty-six

  I woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. The thought of the dance hadn’t even crossed my mind until I opened my closet and saw my dress hanging there in the garment bag. I sighed as I stood there staring at it. “What’s that?” Roman asked, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

  “That’s my dress for the dance,” I said.

  “Can I see it?”

  “Nope. You’re just going to have to wait.”

  “You’re such a tease,” he said, nibbling on my neck.

  “Look who’s talking. You need to stop. We have to get ready for class.”

  “Let’s just skip it.”

  “No. Now go away,” I said, giving him a little shove.

  “Fine,” he groaned. He stole a few more kisses before I finally pushed him out the door. “Good morning Josie.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled, falling down on the bed.

  “I didn’t expect you back anytime soon,” I said.

  “Neither did I, but Gabe busted us and said it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to stay in Billy’s room blah, blah, blah.”

  “Since you’re up, you can join me for class today.”

  “Nooo…”she moaned in to the pillow.

  “Yes. Now get up and get ready,” I said, smacking her on her behind.

  “You seem in a better mood. I trust you slept well?”

  “Well, I can’t say that I actually slept.”

  “I see I’m definitely rubbing off on you…finally. It’s about time you loosened up. If I knew you getting some would get that stick out of your butt I would have tried to get your cherry popped a long time ago.”

  “Josie!” She just laughed. “Why does everyone think I’m such a prude?”

  “Because you are,” Josie said, giggling again.

  I had found out that we didn’t have classes today. The whole day was spent preparing for tomorrow, which meant my day would be spent training and preparing for the attack. While the rest of my friends were helping with preparations for the celebration, Roman, Dean, Josie, and I were sparing with several different guardians in the field outside. We couldn’t use the gym due to the fact that’s where the dance was being held. Aidan had switch the location from the atrium to the gym, telling us it would be a more secure place for the students in the event of an attack.

  It was overwhelmingly warm for late March. To keep us from passing out, Gabe let us have a twenty minute break to relax. As soon as those twenty minutes was up we were right back to work. I was sweating so bad my eyes were burning and I was getting dehydrated, but Gabe kept pushing us. I was surprised he even let us go for lunch. As soon as we got the okay to go eat. I ran. Scared he would change his mind. I didn’t even care I was sweaty, stinky, and dirty. All I wanted was that hour to sit down and eat as much as I could.

  Shortly after we sat down the rest of our friends started to file in and make themselves comfy. “Geez Ella, ever heard of this thing called a shower?” Cameron said when she got a look at me. Before I could open my mouth she saw Dean, Roman, and Josie looking just as pitiful. “What the hell happened to you guys?”

  “Yeah, why do you all look like you were rolling around in the dirt?” Sienna said.

  “Training,” was all I said.

  Everyone was chatting about all the stuff they were going to do and the dance tomorrow. My stomach was churning at the thought of something happening to them. I wanted to tell them to leave and go home where they would be safe, but I couldn’t. “I know it’s hard to relax, but try not to look so edgy,” Roman said, noticing my tension. I squeezed his hand and forced a smile while I finished my lunch.

  After lunch, Gabe worked us, hard. This would be the last chance we had to practice like this so he wanted to make sure we got it. He threw as much at us as he could. He had us take on several guardians at once and worked us into the late evening. I was so sore I thought I wouldn’t make it back to my room. For once I actually let Roman shower with me, afraid I might drown from how tired I was. I healed him and then made him give me a massage. The heat from his hands helped. He stayed with me as long as he could. He stayed until Josie returned from Billy’s room. I said goodnight wishing I didn’t have to.

  Snuggled tightly into my blankets, I rested comfortably while I waited for sleep to come. “Josie, what’s it like, where you were?” I asked, curious.

  It took a moment before she answered me. “It was like paradise. Whatever you imagined heaven would be like that’s what it is. It’s your interpretation of glory, pure happiness. Everything and anything you wanted was at your disposal. All you had to do was close your eyes and wish for it.”

  “Was…he…” I couldn’t bring myself to say his name.

  “No, Ella. He wasn’t,” she said softly.

  “Then where?”

  “I don’t know…when we die, our soul doesn’t leave right away. Ou
r spirit lingers and then we move on.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I guess for the people who have unfinished business.”

  “What about the people who don’t move on? What happens to them?”

  “They stay here?” she said, not quite sure.

  “Does everybody become an angel?”

  “No.”

  “Who determines whether you do or don’t?”

  “It’s not really who it’s more like what. It’s hard to explain,” she yawned. “I’m tired. You mind if we talk about it later?”

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “Sorry for what?”

  “That you’re here. It sounds like that place was perfect.”

  “It was, but if I can’t be there there’s no other place I rather be than here with you.”

  “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were hitting on me,” I joked.

  “Nah, you’re not my type,” she laughed. “Now shut up, stop stressing, and go to sleep,” she said, turning away from me.

  At breakfast, those who knew what was going down tonight sat silently while everyone else chatted about the day ahead. When we were done we all met Ms. Kraft outside to plant some seeds along the wall. It was a nice day outside despite the mood. The weather was warm, but muggy. They said it was unusually warm for spring in Rhode Island and Sienna said she could sense a storm on the way. I covered my eyes from the glare of the bright sun as I looked up to the sky. Not a cloud in sight. I should be happy for the nice weather, but today my mood was a somber one.

  When we were finished with all the outside activities, everyone else went inside to help set up for the dance while the few who had other things to worry about joined Gabe outside on the track to go over the plan and practice what we could. They told us the guardians on campus had tripled for tonight and were on alert. If anything were to go down and security was breached we were to barricade the doors from inside the gym and guardians would surround the students. Aidan told us the gym was the safest place in the whole school. That did not make me feel any better.

  “Are you ready for this?” Gabe asked, after our final practice.