Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (2 page)

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.

It was Jack.

I took a step back in surprise. He was smiling,
holding something in his hand. When I looked down it was a bloody
heart. His entire fist and arm was dripping in blood as if he just
ripped the heart right out of someone’s chest. I gasped at the
vileness of it all. “It was just so easy,” he said.

I placed my hand over my chest only to feel a giant
gaping hole. I looked down. It was my heart he was holding.

I woke up with a jolt, accidentally kicking the chair
in front of me, and causing the woman to glare over her seat at me.
I mumbled sorry, but she didn’t seem to care.

“You alright?” Cameron asked.

I put my hand over my chest. Still intact…just
broken.

“Yeah,” I nodded. I readjusted myself in the seat. I
wasn’t use to flying coach and sitting in these smaller seats. They
definitely did not cater to taller people. I was regretting our
decision to not fly first class. We thought it would be easier to
keep us under the radar but my legs and back were starting to
disagree. Not to mention I couldn’t count how many times the
stewardess hit my elbow with the damn drink cart. I rubbed my
elbow. It was still a little sore. “What time is it?” I asked
Cameron.

“Not sure. I’m still on Rhode Island time,” she
shrugged.

“What does your watch say?”

“Nine am.”

I stopped the flight attendant as she was making her
rounds. “Excuse me ma’am? How much longer until we reach our
destination?”

“About an hour,” she said.

I turned back to Cameron. “Okay so Ireland is five
hours ahead and we should be there within the hour so…” I started
ticking the numbers off in my head. “It’s two in the afternoon now
so we should be there around three.”

“How do you even know all that?” Cameron asked,
scrunching her brow. “Let me find out you’re secretly a nerd,” she
smiled.

“Being smart does not make you a nerd,” I glared.
“And it’s basic math.”

“Whatever,” she said, waving her hand, and leaning
back against her pillow. I wish I could do the same, but I was too
worked up over my last dream. I decided to get up and stretch my
legs. When I returned back to my seat Cameron was already out. I
took out my IPod and tried to relax. I had another hour before we
could start to look for Tristan and with each passing minute I was
getting more and more anxious.

As soon as we landed, Billy told us he would head to
the rental kiosk while we collected the bags. Happy to be off the
cramped plane, I stretched my arms high while I waited for my bag
on the carousel. After we retrieved all our things, we met Billy
outside where he was waiting with our new rented car. We handed off
our bags to Billy then piled in the rental.

Billy told us the nearest hotel was only a few miles
away. He suggested it would be better if we checked in to the hotel
for the night and figured out where we wanted to start. He also
suggested we map out different places where we think he would be
and then check those places out in the morning. I wanted to start
right away, but they were right, we needed to get settled in and
figure everything out. Not to mention I was still feeling pretty
weak and the long flight pretty much wiped me out.

On the way to the hotel, I gazed out the window at
the wide stretch of land. I knew Ireland was beautiful, but I never
expected it to be as breathtaking a view as this. I was in awe.
I’ve seen pictures and heard stories, but nothing compares to the
real thing. I relaxed back in my seat and took it all in.
Committing everything I could to memory afraid I might not see it
again.

About twenty minutes into the drive, we passed a
large garden. I looked out the window watching all the exotic
flowers whiz by my vision; Daises, Lilies, Roses, Forget-me-nots,
Jasmine…Jasmine. Something in my head clicked. “Wait, stop the
car,” I said. Billy kept driving. “Stop the car,” I said again.

“What?” Josie asked.

“Stop the car! Stop the car!” I shouted this time.
Billy slammed on the brakes almost causing me to fly into the front
seat. I bounced back against the rear cushion, jerked by my
seatbelt. I frantically fidgeted with the latch trying to release
myself from my restraints. Once free, I jumped out and ran over to
the vast garden in front of me.

“Ella what is it?” Josie asked, joining me.

“I know this place,” I said, studying the way the
flowers were strategically placed. The way the vines crawled up
along the stone archway and over the fence.

“Wait what? How?” Cameron asked, finally getting out
of the car.

“I’ve seen this before. In a dream.” I walked closer
to the gate that led into the garden. I ran my fingers over the ivy
that had ingested the door, pausing on the handle.

“Ella, where are you going?”

“I need to get a better look,” I said, pushing my
thumb down on the latch and opening the gate.

“You guys,” Billy called, running up behind us.

I knew this was someone’s property and I was
trespassing, but I had to see for myself. Everything about this
place was so familiar. From the row of flowers that traveled down
the stone pathway, the small cottage in the corner, the little lily
pond down by the edge of the wooden fence. “Ella,” Cameron called
softly. She hesitated by the gate, not sure if she wanted to risk
going further. Not wanting to be left alone, she joined us in the
middle of the garden.

“Guys we need to go. We’re trespassing and I’m
starting to have a feeling this is a place we shouldn’t be,” Billy
said worried.

“I feel it too, but not so much alarmed by it. What
is it?” Josie asked.

“Power. Very old and very strong power. This place is
surrounded by it,” Billy replied, looking over his shoulder at the
small cottage.

“Ella?” Josie grabbed my hand.

“Josie I know this place it’s…” I began until I felt
it. The power. It was unlike anything I’ve felt before. It was
strong, strange, and gunning for me. I turned around slowly.
Standing a few feet away from us was an elderly woman and she
looked pissed. Her white as snow hair was glowing under the
moonlight and her long paisley skirt was billowing in the wind.

“What are you doing here?” the woman asked with a
heavy Irish accent.

I took a step forward to address her, but she threw
her hand up stopping me in my tracks, making the bangles on her
wrist jingle like crazy. “I know what you are,” she glared.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” I said, putting my hands
up in surrender. “I just –”

She cut me off. “How did you get in here?”

“I uh, walked through the gate,” I said, wondering if
she was serious.

I saw a small flicker of humor in her eyes before she
switched back to her accusing glare. I could tell I wasn’t going to
get anywhere with her so I said, “I’m sorry. We didn’t mean to
disturb you. We will be leaving now.” I signaled for my friends to
follow and went to take a step forward when the woman let out a
cackling sound and before I knew it I was knocked on my ass and out
cold.

Josie was the only one left standing. She turned to
the elderly woman with fear in her eyes. “Who are you?” the woman
asked curiously, clearly knowing Josie was different from the
rest.

“My nn-name is Josie,” she stuttered. “And these are
my friends.”

“What brought you here?” the woman asked, squinting
at her.

“My friend Ella thought she had seen this place
before and she wanted to –”

The woman waved her hand indicating she heard enough.
“What are you?” she asked, taking a step closer.

“I’m an angel,” Josie said proudly.

A small smile crept across the old woman’s wrinkled
face. She took another step closer, merely inches from her. She
looked Josie over, studying her. “Humph,” she made a disapproving
noise. Then she craned her neck to the side, listening. Her eyes
grew wide and then she looked back at Josie. “Quickly, inside,” she
said.

Josie looked at her like she was nuts. “Now,” the
woman demanded.

“But what about my friends?”

She looked over at all of them lying on the ground
and sighed. She grumbled something under her breath then stomped
her foot three times. Two men came running out of the house.
“Grandma, what happened?” the younger boy asked.

“Josef,” she hissed. “Don’t question me. Just help us
get them inside.” The young man looked at Josie before he picked up
Ella and carried her inside. Then the woman shooed Josie toward
Cameron while the elderly man helped Josie carry her in. Then the
two men went back outside to get Billy.

When I finally came to, I had a massive headache. I
sat up slowly and looked around the room. Josie, Cameron, and Billy
were sitting comfortably on a large couch sipping tea. Confused, I
scanned the area. Across from me was the woman who knocked me out.
She was sitting in a rocking chair and staring at me. For a moment
I thought I was dreaming. I stood up quickly, panic surging through
me. My head was spinning. I thought I was going to pass out.

A young man with dark hair came over and helped back
on the couch. I flinched at first. “Whoa, careful there,” he said.
He eased me back onto the couch and gave me a shy smile before he
sat back down.

“What’s going on?” I asked my friends, thinking we
landed in an alternate dimension.

Before anyone could say anything, the old woman stood
up, and poured me a cup of tea. “Drink,” she said, shoving the cup
in my hand. I looked at her thinking she was nuts. It was not the
time to sit around drinking tea. It was time to get the hell out of
there.

The old woman stared at me, waiting impatiently for
me to drink it.

“It’s not poisoned is it?” I mumbled and she laughed.
Afraid to drink it, I glanced over at Josie and she motioned for me
to take a sip. I hesitated, afraid my friends were under some kind
of spell.

“Don’t mind her. I made the tea myself and it’s not
poisoned,” the young man smiled. “I’m Josef by the way,” he said
bashfully.

“Ella,” I said, cautiously taking a sip. When I
didn’t gag or instantly start convulsing, I proceeded to take
another sip. My throat was dry and the warm liquid was soothing.
“Can someone now please tell me what is going on?” I asked
again.

“I’ll be the one asking the questions,” the old woman
growled. Her accent was so thick it was hard to understand her.
“Why have you come here?”

I eyed her warily before I answered. “Your garden,” I
said with caution. “It’s very familiar to me.” She narrowed her
eyes. I could tell she was trying to figure me out. We stared each
other down.

“Ella, this is Deirdre and Caleb and their grandson
Josef. They were kind enough to let us wait here until you woke
up,” Josie said, giving me the eye.

“You’re kidding, right?” I said, giving the old woman
the evil eye. “She knocks us out and then all of sudden decides to
be hospitable. I’m not buying it. No offense,” I said to her
husband.

“No offense taken and I understand your need to be
weary, but I can assure you we mean you no harm. My wife,” he
paused, receiving a warning look from her. “Thought you were here
to attack us which was why she cast a spell to disarm you, so to
speak.” I opened my mouth for a retort when Josie hit my knee
letting me know to keep my mouth shut. “Once she realized you were
not a threat we brought you inside to make sure you were okay,” he
smiled kindly.

I looked at my friends. They smiled and nodded their
heads. “You missed a lot while you were out,” Cameron shrugged.
Apparently, I thought. Feeling a little more at ease, I sat back
and sipped my tea. No one said anything else for what seemed like
forever. The silence was deafening.

I looked back over at the elderly woman. I didn’t
know her and already I didn’t like her. She stood up and took the
cup of tea from me pouring out the contents into a bowl. Then she
swirled her finger around the inside of the cup. “What is she
doing?”

“Reading your tea leaves,” Josef said.

She stared into the tea cup, concentrating. Then she
looked up at me and smiled. “Who is it you seek?” she asked. I
opened my mouth to reply but she interrupted me before I had the
chance. “Who are you?”

“Ella, Ella McCallister,” I said, my head held
high.

She flinched, but only enough that I noticed. She
reached out and grabbed my hand. I tried to pull away but she held
on tight. Despite my friends saying they were not a threat,
instinct had me pull up my shield, but when I did, nothing
happened.
What the…?
I tried again, causing her grip to
tighten. I met her eyes and she was smiling. “Your power is useless
against me,” she said.