The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (74 page)

             
Once we were outside and out of earshot I asked Dean, “So what do you think this means and remember, I’ll know if you’re lying.”

             
“I think that it’s a new power. You know dad can read minds.”

             
“Yes but only when in contact with someone. I wasn’t touching anyone and I heard everyone.”

             
“Our powers advance with every generation. So maybe you got the new and improved version,” he shrugged.

I started walking again, but Dean stayed put. I turned around to see what the holdup was. He had an odd expression on his face. I couldn’t quite make out what he was thinking. It was almost as if he was trying to block me from his head. ”What are you doing?” I asked.

He squinted slightly, concentrating. He kind of looked like he was constipated. “Can you hear what I’m thinking?” he asked.

“No, it’s all kind of jumbled. Sounds like static. How are you doing that?”

“They just taught us how to put up a wall to block mind readers.”

“Do you think it works both ways? Like is there a way I can block everyone out?” I asked hopeful.

“Why would you want to do that? You just received probably one of the best powers ever. You can hear what other people are thinking.”

“It’s not as great as you think it is. I could barely decipher who was saying what. My ears were ringing and the pressure in my head. This is one power I would gladly give up.”

“Don’t be so quick to dismiss it. It’s still new to you and you don’t know how to control your powers yet so of course everything is going to be hectic at first. You just got this power today and each one comes with a price, but only when you first receive them,” he said, trying to convince me not to give up just yet.

“Why don’t I know any of this? Why am I only finding this out now? Oh, yeah, because everyone thought it would be better if they hid it from me,” I huffed.

“Look, I know you’re pissed at dad because you think he lied to you but he was protecting you. He was protecting all of us.”

“Not you too,” I said, getting ready to take off.

Dean grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Ella, just please, listen. I know you think you were the only one that didn’t know but it’s not true. Neither Xander nor I had any idea until we turned eighteen. Dad sent you here so you can find out who you are the same way we did.”

“I thought uncle Bobby taught you?”

“Well, he did, or should I say he tried. Uncle Bobby’s an alcoholic. He was drunk most of the time and one month with him was not going to tell me much. The only reason dad allowed me to go was because I fought him tooth and nail about it. I felt the same way you did when I first found out and a visit to Uncle Bobby was my only alternative.”

“How come I didn’t have that option?” I asked a little annoyed.

He laughed. “Trust me, you didn’t want that option. You are much better off being here.”

“Well, until I can figure out how to get a handle on this new power I think I’m going to have to hide in a cave,” I sighed.

“Not if I can help it. I have an idea, come on,” he said, heading back into the school.

Curious, I followed him. “So, I have to ask,” I said as we headed up to the third floor. “Why did you come to the infirmary?”

“They called me out of class and told me you fainted.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t have to come. I mean, after last night I would have expected you not to,” I admitted, embarrassed by my behavior.

He stopped, almost knocking me down the steps. “Ella, you’re my sister. Regardless of what happened I care about you and I hate to see you hurt,” he said sincerely.

“That’s funny because you hurt me all the time.”

“That’s different. I’m your brother. I’m allowed to,” he winked.

“So that’s why you’re such a jerk to me because you’re allowed to be?”

“Hey, what else are big brothers for,” he smiled. “Ella, we fight all the time, it’s normal, but when it comes down to it no matter what, we’re family first. So no matter how much you piss me off, I’ll still be there when you need me.”

“No matter how much
I
piss
you
off,” I said, annoyed as we continued our way onto the third floor and down the hall. We stopped in front of Ms. Kraft’s room, the spells and castings teacher. “What are we doing here?”

“You’ll see,” he said as he lifted his hand to knock.

“Come in,” Ms. Kraft called. “Dean, Ella, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We’re not disturbing you are we?” Dean asked kindly.

“No, no please, have a seat. What can I help you with?”

Dean and I took a seat in the desks across from her. Not knowing what Dean was up to I allowed him to speak first. “Well, we believe Ella has developed a new power today.”

“Ella that’s wonderful,” Ms. Kraft said cheerfully. “What is your new power?”

“Um…mind reader,” I said, unsure of the correct terminology.

“Oh, I see. You’re here to see if I can temporarily bind your power,” she said more as a statement than question.

“That’s what we were hoping,” Dean said.

She got up from her desk and went to the back of the classroom. She ran her finger along the bindings of the books she had on the shelves until she found the one she was looking for. Then flipped through the pages until she found the spell she desired. “Here,” she said, taking a seat next to me. “Give me your hand.”

I held out my hand and she sandwiched it in between hers. Then she closed her eyes. Her lips moved soundlessly as she incanted the spell. I watched intently as she cast a spell over me to help control my new power. She whispered a few more incantations, then took a deep breath, and let it out. “Okay, now we just need to make sure it worked,” she said.

“Well, I can’t tell what you’re thinking or Dean,” I said, looking over my shoulder at him. “So it must have worked.”

“You won’t be able to read my mind. All teachers already have theirs blocked and Dean I can tell is trying to block his.”

“But how come I could hear Mr. Grant’s?” I asked confused.

“Because you were just receiving this power so it allowed you to hear everyone. That’s why it probably felt so overpowering.”

“It was like my head was going to explode. I was hearing everyone at once and then the ringing in my ears and the pressure. It was just too much,” I said, cringing at the memory.

She placed a hand tenderly on mine. “I understand,” she said kindly. “Unfortunately when you receive a new power it hits you all at once, it’s magnified ten times.”

“Yep, that’s kind of what it felt like,” I said, recalling something when I first received my powers. “So is that why when I originally got my powers my senses were magnified, but now not so much.” I remember being able to hear and see for miles but now it was like I had regular human senses.

“Yes, when a vampire first receives their powers all their senses are heightened temporarily to prepare your body for what it’s about
to endure.”

“Why does it go away then?”

“That is because your body wasn’t meant to take on that much power all at once. Over time as you grow so do your powers. They come gradually so you can handle it better.”

I nodded, understanding. The door opened and in walked Mr. Cormac, the chemistry teacher. “You called?” he asked, stepping inside the door. I didn’t remember her calling him.

I looked to Ms. Kraft for an explanation and she noticed my confusion. “Mr. Cormac is a warlock. We don’t have to call on the telephone,” she winked at me. “We can sense each other and communicate through the elements.”

“The elements?” I said, scratching my head.

“Don’t worry, you will learn about that later,” she smiled. “But for now, we need to see if the spell worked.” She turned to address Mr. Cormac. “You are currently tutoring a few students at the moment, yes?” He nodded in agreement. “Do you think we could let Ella into the classroom for a minute to see if the spell worked?”

“Of course,” he said, smiling back at her. If I didn’t know any better, the way these two were looking at each other I could swear there was something going on. I was thankful for the moment that I couldn’t read their minds. I shuddered at the thought.

Mr. Cormac guided me to his room and told me to walk to the back and pretend I was borrowing a book. He also said to linger for a moment to make sure. I did what he said and walked to the back of the classroom. I stood there pretending to look for a book and listened carefully
. “Do you hear anything?”
Dean asked. I hated that he could get in my head but I couldn’t talk back in his.

I rolled my eyes and ignored his question obviously because I couldn’t answer back. A few more minutes later and I heard Mr. Cormac say,
“I think you’re okay. It’s been long enough. You
should have heard something by now.”
  I turned to see he was still standing by his desk. How the hell did he?
“The elements,”
he said smiling. Of course, I rolled my eyes again and left the room.

When I got back to Ms. Kraft’s room I asked her if there was a spell to block out someone who could project thoughts. Dean glared at me while she gave me a soft laugh. “Ella dear, even though now it might seem as a…” she paused, choosing her next words carefully. “Inconvenience, I’m sure in the future it will be helpful.”

“But how come I can’t send messages back?”

“Because that is not your power. It may seem unfair, but this is
how you will learn to communicate better and what a better person to try that with than your own brother.”

Dean and I looked at each other. Neither of us cared to learn how to communicate better with each other.

We thanked Ms. Kraft for her help and Dean walked me back to my room. “What are you going to do now that you have the rest of the day off?” Dean asked.

“I’m going to enjoy my alone time,” I smiled. “And thanks Dean…for everything.”

“No prob’,” he said, ruffling my hair.

I swatted his hand away. “Hey, careful there, my head still hurts you know,” I said, gently touching the bandage. He laughed and left, heading off down the hall. I shut the door behind me and laid down on my bed happy to have the rest of the day off and to myself.

I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the fact that I totally flipped out in class and everyone probably now thinks I’m crazy. Or the fact that I still haven’t had the chance to apologize to Riley and not to mention the strange impure thoughts Roman was having about me. All this mind babble was making my head hurt. I got up and went to the bathroom to take the pills the nurse gave me. It didn’t take long for them to kick in and before I knew it I was resting peacefully.

Chapter thirteen

I knew I was dreaming when I found myself in the school’s maze again. This time I had found my way to the middle where there was a large square fountain and a statue of a goddess in the center. I didn’t know which goddess it was, but she was captured beautifully. I noticed I was wearing the angel costume I had worn last Halloween, which made me a little nervous.

              I walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge. I skimmed my finger over the top of the warm water and watched it swirl in mini whirlpools below me. “Ella!”

             
“Josie?” I sprung up from my seat. “Josie?”

             
“Ella, where are you?” she called.

             
“Josie I’m here. I’m right here!” I shouted. My eyes searched the area looking for her.

             
“Ella I’m over here,” she said.

             
I followed the sound of her voice to the other side of a hedge. I spotted the black wings of her angel costume and ran to her. “Josie!”

             
She was gone.

             
“Catch me if you can!”

             
“Tristan?” This wasn’t happening. “Tristan is that you?”

             
“Ella I’m over here. I need your help.” This time it was Kyle’s voice.

             
I felt like there was a dagger twisting in my heart. I ran back to the center of the maze. “Josie, Tristan, Kyle! Where are you guys?” I shouted.

             
“Chasing ghosts I see.”

             
That voice. I knew that voice. It frightened me.

             
I turned around to face my worst nightmare. “Jack,” I breathed.

             
“Ella, Ella, Ella. You can run, but you can’t hide,” he growled, leaping for me.

             
I sat up, screaming bloody murder.

             
“Christ almighty my fucking eardrums are bleeding,” Mackenzie whined.

             
I couldn’t catch my breath. I started to hyperventilate. I sat on the edge of my bed and put my head between my knees. To my surprise, Mackenzie handed me a paper bag and told me to breath into it. I had no idea where this sudden act of kindness came from, but I wasn’t going to question it. Not now at least.

             
Once I was able to breathe normal and speak, I turned to Mackenzie and asked, “Why are you being so nice to me?”

             
She rolled her eyes. “Please, I just didn’t want you to spaz out again or like die or something. I couldn’t stay in a room that I knew someone died in and I particularly like this room,” she said in her usual snooty tone.

             
I sighed, pulling my knees up to my chest. “I just had a bad dream, that’s all,” I said.

             
“I’m sorry if you misunderstood, but that was not an invitation for
‘girl talk’
or whatever.”

             
I should have known better. This probably would have been a good time to see inside her head and know what she was really thinking, but then again, maybe not.

             
I went into the bathroom to change out of my uniform and into some jeans and a hoodie. We only had to wear our uniforms to class so as soon as class was over most of us students put on regular clothes. Since I was excused from my classes for the rest of the day I decided to change now.

I hadn’t realized I slept through lunch and dinner wasn’t being served for another hour or so. Each floor in the dorms had their own little snack area with drinks, sandwich type stuff, etc. I thought I’d grab a quick snack and head to the library to do some research on my powers.

              I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water then took off for the library. It was quiet, but I still chose a table near the back. I took out my powers book and apple, taking a bite so loud it echoed through the library. I looked around to see if there was anyone nearby who heard it, but I didn’t see anyone. I took another bite, but quieter this time. The Liberian stood in front of me and cleared her throat. When I looked up, she pointed to a sign that read no food or drink allowed in the library. I guess I wasn’t as quiet as I thought. “It’s only an apple,” I said.

             
She pointed to the door. “Outside or in the trash,” she said and proceeded to stand there until I made my decision.

             
I stifled an eye roll, walked outside and around the corner of the library. I leaned against the wall, in the cold, and tried to enjoy my apple. My enjoyment was cut short when a big puff of smoke drifted in my direction. I coughed and waved the smoke away from my face looking for the culprit. “I see they let you out of your cage,” Roman said, foot and backside pressed against the far wall, cigarette in mouth.

             
I glared at him. “I’m not in the mood for you.”

             
“Fancy a fag?” he asked, ignoring what I said and offering me a cigarette.

             
“No thank you. I’d rather drink Drano than touch one of those.”

             
“Suit yourself,” he said, moving closer to me.

             
“Do you mind?” I asked, annoyed. I pushed myself off the wall and crossed my arms. I was going to let him know I wasn’t going to take any of his crap, especially after what he pulled at lunch the other day.

             
“Actually, I do. I was having a peaceful moment until you came out here,” he said, blowing a puff of smoke right in my face.

             
“Me, what the hell did I do?”

             
“You’re welcome by the way,” he said, flicking ash off his cigarette.

             
“Excuse me?” I asked, wondering what the hell he thought I owed him for.

             
“You know, for saving your life.”

             
“I wasn’t aware my life was in any danger.”

             
“You’re a stubborn one, aren’t ya?”

             
I stood there, my arms folded tight, annoyed at his cryptic conversation. He watched me like he was watching something interesting of the discovery channel. “I don’t get you,” I said, viewing the way he took a puff of his cigarette. “I mean what is it that you want from me?”

             
“A thank you would suffice.”

             
“And what exactly am I thanking you for?”

             
“How about for not leaving you unconscious on the floor in history class?” he hinted at in a non-subtle way.

             
Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. Dean had told me when I woke up that Roman was the one who carried me to the nurse’s office.  “Thank you,” I said.

             
“There, was that
that
hard?” he said flicking his cigarette. I narrowed my eyes at him. “So what happened anyway?” he asked, leaning his shoulder on the wall, crossing one foot over the other. 

             
“That’s none of your business,” I said, squaring my shoulders. With him this close, I could see he was sporting a nasty bruise on his lip. “What happened to your mouth?” I asked. It looked like he had gotten into a fight.

             
“None of your business,” he said with a slight smirk.

             
“Let me guess, got into a little argument with Mackenzie? Forgot the safety word?” I said, laughing to myself. His eyebrows shot up. “Accidently wrinkle her blouse by getting too handsy?”

             
“Jealous?” he asked, slightly amused.

             
“Ha!” I laughed. “Hardly. And you’re one to talk.” He looked at me puzzled. “What is it your so jealous about or should I say who?” I asked, remembering the feeling I got from him when I got my new power. On top of hearing everyone’s thoughts I could also feel their emotions as well, but for some reason Roman’s was the one who stood out.

             
“I don’t get jealous, darling,” he smiled.

             
I didn’t have to read his mind to know he was lying. I could see it in his eyes. “You’re so full of it. You know that. I know for a fact that you’re jealous because when I –” I quickly clamped my mouth shut.

             
“When you what?” he asked curiously, taking a step closer.

             
“Nothing. I should go.”

             
“No, Ella, wait,” he said, reaching for me. When his fingers brushed my arm I felt a small shock. I turned around. My arm was pulsing from where his fingers brushed.

He stood there and stared at me for a moment, his dark blue eyes looking down on mine. He took a step closer, so close I could smell his cigarette cloaked breath. I mindlessly reached up toward his lip and my hand started to glow. “What the hell?” He flinched, taking a step back.

              I quickly pulled my hand away, hiding it behind my back. “Sorry, I’m a healer. I don’t know how to control it yet. It just kind of happens.” He stood there watching me. “I could heal your lip for you, if you want?”

             
“No. I’m alright, thanks,” he said and walked away.

             
What the frig?

             
I sighed and walked back into the library. I seriously did not understand him. He’s nice to me one minute than nasty the next. He’s so hot and cold. I really don’t understand guys like I thought I did.

             
After my run in with Roman I had a hard time concentrating on my research so I gave up and went back to my room to drop off my books. Starving, I headed down to the dining hall for dinner. Today they were serving burgers and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into one. I was drooling just at the thought of it. Of all the things here I thought the food they served was the only thing I liked so far.

             
I found Dixon, at what was becoming our normal table, and joined him. The look on his face when I sat down told me he had heard about my outburst in class. “I’m taking it you heard,” I said. He didn’t even want to look at me. “How bad is it?” I asked, knowing that if Dixon had found out already the rumors were flying.

             
“I heard you started screaming at everyone and then ran out of the classroom,” he said.

A few girls I didn’t know walked by whispering, pointing, and giggling. “That’s not what happened,” I said, stabbing a fork in my fries.

              “You want to tell me what really happened?” Dixon asked sympathetically.

             
I took a deep breath and told him about my new power and the incident in class. “That would explain the bandage,” he said, reminding me it was still there. “How cool is your new power though! Can you hear what I’m thinking now?” He scrunched his brows like he was trying to project thoughts into my head. I had to laugh a little at his expression.

             
“I can’t hear what you’re thinking. Dean had Ms. Kraft do a spell that basically put up a wall to block out everyone’s thoughts until I can figure out how to use this power without it making me nuts.”

             
“Oh,” he said a little disappointed. More people walked by whispering and laughing at me. “Hey Britney, has that rash cleared up for you yet?” Dixon shouted at the group with a wicked smile. The girl looked mortified as she put her head down and rushed off, leaving her friends with new gossip to whisper about. I mouthed thank you to Dixon and he just fluttered his hands like it was no big deal.

             
“So word is you totally freaked out in class and attacked a desk,” Cameron said, sitting down next to me. I looked at her wide eyed. “Don’t worry. I don’t care if you’re crazy. I think it makes you more interesting,” she smiled.

             
“Thanks, I guess, and I didn’t attack a desk,” I said, annoyed at how quickly rumors spun.

             
“Whatever,” she shrugged. “I’m cool with it.” I rolled my eyes and continued to eat my dinner.

             
No one else mentioned my incident from earlier and for that I was glad. I figured they either didn’t care or were just being polite. Even Mackenzie kept her mouth shut, although, the smartass look on her face did have me worried. The only awkward moment was when I kept catching Roman staring at me. Even after I caught him he still didn’t look away which just made me feel uncomfortable. Those two made me wish I could get a handle on my powers sooner. This new found power could be useful if it didn’t kill me.