The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (111 page)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Unforgiven

Jessica Miller

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2014 Jessica Miller

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 1495948625

ISBN-13: 978-1495948626

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my fans. Thank you for your undying devotion.

Don’t forget to take a look in the back for the Unforgiven Playlist.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m going to give myself a pat on the back and thank myself for all my hard work. I have gone over and over this book to death trying to make sure I got the story perfect and where I wanted it to be. I’d also like to thank all the readers and bloggers who dedicated their time to read my books and share them with other readers. Your time is never taken for granted.

Chapter one

I woke up startled. Forgetting where I was. “Hey, you okay?” Josie asked.

              “Yeah, weird dream is all,” I said, pulling off the itchy wool blanket the stewardess brought me earlier.

             
“You want to talk about it?” Josie turned, giving me her full attention.

             
“No I’m okay. Thanks,” I said, squeezing Josie’s hand and smiling at her reassuringly.

             
“How are you feeling? Hungry? Thirsty?” she asked with a quick intensity making me feel a little overwhelmed.

             
“Josie I’m fine,” I insisted for the millionth time. “Just tired,” and feeling run down I wanted to say, but kept it to myself. No point in making her worry. She was already hovering over me enough and I needed room to breathe. I appreciated her concern, but she was smothering me just a little too much.

             
Josie reached in to her bag and pulled out a water bottle and handed it to me. “I had Billy sneak this on the plane for you,” she said, shoving the bottle in my hand.

             
I looked at the bottle. There was a red gooey substance inside that looked like cranberry juice. “What is it?” I asked wearily.

             
“Two parts blood one part water.” I made a face. Josie rolled her eyes at me. “Gee whiz Ella, for a vampire you think you wouldn’t be so squeamish about drinking blood.”

             
“Yes, but I’m a new vampire and only half at that. This whole drinking blood thing is still new to me,” I said, eyeing the bottle.

             
“Just drink it. Billy said you’ll need it to help recuperate and get your strength back and this is the quickest way to do that. You’re still weak and frankly looking kind of pale.” It was my turn to roll my eyes now. “And not to mention you insisted we leave right away –”

             
“Okay, okay. I’ll drink it…see,” I said, unscrewing the cap and holding up the bottle. As soon as I got a whiff of it I felt my pulse race. I took a long, deep breath. The second it hit my lips it took everything I had not to down the bottle. I swallowed a few small gulps and placed the cap back on the bottle. I gave Josie an exaggerated smile and she sat back content. It was a small victory she had won, just enough to satisfy her and leave me alone for a little while.

             
I tucked the bottle in my bag for later and sat back in my chair. I let the healing effects of the blood course through me as I tried to rest comfortably. I could feel it working almost instantly and was happy for the pick me up. The whole idea of drinking blood still freaked me out despite it’s rewards. I only recently had the desire for it and that was usually in the heat of the moment. Roman was the only person I have ever bitten, but at the time it just felt right, natural. I felt the desire of it and the call of it, but drinking it voluntarily from a bottle and biting someone were two different things. Sitting here thinking about it made biting someone surprisingly more appealing than drinking it like it was wine.

             
I had a hard time trying to fall back asleep. My mind was racing with everything that happened and I couldn’t seem to shut it off. I got up to go to the bathroom to splash some cold water on my face. Josie was right. I was looking pretty pale. I also had dark circles under my eyes and my skin looked shallow and sunken in. On top of all that, the latest addition of blue in my hair was beaming brightly. Unfortunately this streak I couldn’t hide unlike the others. This one was in plain view on the top right side.

             
I sighed, readjusted my ponytail, and then headed back to my seat. When I returned, I noticed Josie and Cameron had switched seats and Josie was now cuddled up next to Billy. I was actually surprised she hadn’t sat next to him in the first place.

             
“Hey,” Cameron said as I squeezed in to the seat next to her. “Care to fill me in on what the plan is? Not that I don’t enjoy a random trip to Ireland, but I would like to know what to expect.”

             
I knew Josie wasn’t too forthcoming about what we were doing and I wasn’t so sure myself on what I should tell her. It was clear she was on team Roman. I was afraid once I told her the truth she would hop on the next flight back to school, although that might not be such a bad thing. She shouldn’t be here. This was not her problem. I watched her expectant face as she sat there and waited for my answer. Should I tell her the truth? Would she freak out so bad they’ll have to contain her for the rest of the flight? I guess there was only one way to find out.

             
I decided to start small and work my way up. I thought breaking it to her gently would be the safer approach. “Why don’t you tell me what you do know?” I said, hoping I could get an idea of where I should start.

             
She narrowed her eyes at me slightly. I had a feeling she knew I was attempting to hide certain information and I was sure she was about to let me know she wasn’t happy about it. She adjusted herself so she was facing me. I braced myself for her attitude, but she surprised me by speaking calmly. “I know there was someone before Roman and he was
‘the one’
,” she air quoted. “I also know Jack supposedly killed him, but you believe he’s still alive.” I nodded my head, unsure if she was looking for conformation or not. “My guess is you got tipped off that he is somewhere in Ireland.”

             
“How do you know all this?” I asked, wondering how she came about this information.

             
“I’m just that good,” she said with a smirk. I raised my brow at her. “And Josie told me.” I sat back, crossing my arms. Was nothing sacred anymore? What happened to sharing secrets with friends because you knew you could trust that person to keep that secret? I can’t believe she would open her mouth like that. “Look, she only told me what I needed to know so don’t get mad at Josie.”

             
I pulled on the end of my ponytail, biting my lip. I still wasn’t sure how much information I should divulge. “Why are you here?” I asked instead. She looked at me confused and at the same time a little offended. “What I’m saying is…” I paused for a moment. I didn’t even think I knew what I was trying to say. “I would have expected you to beg me to stay considering you know the real reason I’m going,” I said softly, as if I was committing a sin for saying it out loud.

             
“I’m not going to lie. At first I thought you just needed to get away for a while, which is cool, considering, but then you started talking in your sleep and that’s when I started asking questions.” I blushed, a little embarrassed. I had no idea I talked in my sleep. I wondered how much I actually said. “Don’t worry. You didn’t give up anything good,” she winked. “You just kept saying Tristan over and over again.”

             
I tugged at the picky wool blanket. Why was Cameron so calm about all this? I wondered if she had ulterior motives. “I don’t get how you are okay with all of this?” She looked at me funny. “Not too long ago you swore to do physical damage if I ever hurt Roman and here you are on your way to help me find my so called dead lover.”

             
“Maybe I’m secretly hoping you don’t find him,” she said with a teasing smile. I tried to smile back but the hurt I was feeling from the possibility of breaking Roman’s heart was too much to bear at the moment. “Ella, I know you love Roman. You can’t deny it anymore,” she said, giving me a look that said nice try but I figured it out. “I know he loves you too.”

             
“Are you deliberately trying to dig the knife deeper?” I asked, clenching onto the little sanity I had left.

             
“No. I get why you are doing this. I know you don’t want to hurt Roman and if it was me, I would do the same thing. I would want to know too.  As your friend I support your decision whatever the outcome. I’m here for you and I will do whatever you need me to do no questions asked.”

             
I just couldn’t let it go. I was perplexed by her generosity and understanding. “But why?” I pushed, needing to know more.

             
“Because you are my friend and that’s what friends do,” she said with a genuinely sweet smile. She placed her hand gently on mine. “I will follow you through this to the end.”

             
I relaxed a little. I should have never doubted Cameron’s intentions. She was always straight with me, from the first day I met her. “Thank you Cameron. You have no idea how much this means to me. I have no idea how I could ever repay you.”

             
“Don’t worry. I think of something,” she said, patting my hand. “We can start with you calling Roman,” she smiled, reaching out to grab the phone off the back of the chair.

             
I knew it was too good to be true. She held the phone out to me. I took it and hung it back up. “Cameron I can’t call Roman.”

             
“Why not?”

             
“Because. What the hell would I say? I mean really. Hey sorry I left but I had to see if my ex-lover was still alive. Yeah, cause that would go over great.”

             
“Ella, I think you are under estimating Roman. You don’t know how he’s going to react.”

             
“Exactly,” I said, scared I already lost him.

             
“I think he would be more pissed by you not saying anything than telling him the truth. I know Roman pretty well and trust me when I say it is better that you call him. He’ll understand,” she said, grabbing the phone again.

             
I knew she was right. Although I didn’t believe he would be as understanding as she claimed he would be. Hell I wouldn’t, but I just couldn’t right now. I needed some time to think of what to say and at the moment too many things were plaguing my mind to think straight. “I will call him, but not now. I just…rather wait until we land.” She conceded and placed the phone back in it’s rightful place.

             
“Fine, but I’m warning you now I will keep you reminding you to.”

             
“I have no doubt you will.”

             
“Alright get some rest. You’re going to need it.”

             
I sighed and rested my head back against the seat. It made me feel a little better knowing Cameron understood, but still worried with what we were stepping into. We were walking in blind. No idea where to start. We were going off a tip from a psychotic killer who could have possibly lied just to send on us on a wild goose chase. I wouldn’t believe that though. I knew deep down Tristan was alive. I saw it. I had to believe and I wasn’t going to give up until I found him.

             
I flipped the switch for the stewardess and asked her for a cup of water so I could take some of the sleeping pills I had left over from the many visits I had taken to the nurse’s office. I knew that would be the only way I could sleep and not worry about everything. Besides thinking about Tristan, I couldn’t stop thinking about Roman. I cared for him deeply and I meant it when I told him I loved him, but I loved Tristan too and if there was a possibility he was out there somewhere… I had to know.

             
The temporary peace and quiet was welcomed, leaving me time to my own thoughts, but all that time in my own head would make anyone crazy. I decided to take out my journal and write until the meds kicked in.

March 27

My life has never really been simple. In the past two years I had almost died, three times. I lost my best friend Josie, who then came back from the dead, and now is an angel along with my high school sweetheart Kyle. I’m a half-vampire half-human who has more powers than anyone has heard of and with each new power I get it seems to follow with turning pieces of my hair blue. I started a new school where I fell in love with a boy named Roman, met some great friends, only to have it end with a horrible attack on the school because of me. And let’s not forget my evil ex-roommate, who for whatever reason, hates me and had made it her duty to make my life miserable.

             
Yep, that’s pretty much my life in a nutshell. Oh and let’s not forget I’m also a royal who is supposed to take over for my dad in a few years unless Xander, my eldest brother, decides to take his place. But I have a feeling after the stunt I just pulled I’ll be let off the hook – hopefully.

             
All these thoughts spinning in my head; Roman, Tristan, Riley – one of my newest best friends and the one person I regret leaving behind without an explanation as to why. I’m trying not to think about how pissed off Gabe and Dean are going to be when they find out I’m gone. And my parents. I can’t think about all of them now. What’s done is done. I’ll deal with the consequences when I return…if I return.

I slept most of the flight. Every now and then I would dream about Tristan and his Grandmother’s garden, but every time I would run to him I could never catch him. He always seemed so close, but always just out of reach. A few times when I did manage to catch him it was Roman and not Tristan. I tossed and turned, reliving the dream on a loop. The last dream, when I reached him, I hesitantly touched his shoulder, afraid of who would turn around.