The Gifted Ones: A Reader by Maria Elizabeth Romana Page A

kiss?”
    Grace’s voice was gentle, “Honey, how well do you remember what happened last night?”
    “I remember it. I went to Nathan’s, and we watched some vampire movie, and then I went to pick up the pizza with Aiden, and we stopped at the river, and he, uh, he…” She glanced at the faces around her, and her cheeks started to turn a little pink. “Well, that is, I think he was going to kiss me, and then, Aunt Grace showed up, and there were these scary guys, and then Angel was there, and…” She shook her head out, “It’s a little fuzzy after that. Like, really fuzzy. Like…blank.”
    “Hmph.” Joe made a sour face. “That’s because that little piece of sh—”
    “Joe!” Grace and Granny admonished him simultaneously. Finally, something they agreed on.
    Joe rephrased, “Lover Boy drugged you, sweetheart.”
    “He…” Ellie bit her lip and looked at the floor. Quietly she said, “I thought he liked me. Like he thought I was pretty or funny or smart…”
    Grace fought the urge to run over and wrap her arms around Ellie. Why did her first horrible experience with the opposite sex have to be shared with so many people? Virtual strangers, no less. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m sure that’s what he wanted you to think. He was trying to gain your trust.”
    Ellie was quiet for a moment, then she looked up. “Okay, so I’m an idiot. I got tricked by some stupid guy. Why all the cloak and dagger? I mean, did we really have to leave town? And did you have to call in the troops?” She waved her hand toward Joe and Angel.
    Granny set her coffee cup down loudly. “She didn’t call them, Elodie. I did. Good thing, too, or your Aunt might be washing up a few miles down the river about now, and God knows what would have happened to you.” She sat forward in her seat, bringing her closer to Ellie. “You’re a hot commodity, my dear, and it’s time you understood that.” With a sidelong glance at Grace, she added, “High time.” Grace just frowned and looked away.
    “Hot commodity? Me?” Ellie laughed, “You’ve got me mixed up with someone else.”
    “No, honey,” Grace said. “She doesn’t. You are, well, Gifted.”
    “Gifted? In what? Being a total klutz? What are you talking about?” Ellie’s amusement appeared to be turning into frustration.
    Joe stood again, accepting his role. “You’re Gifted, Ellie, as in, one of us.” He made a whirling motion with his finger, indicating the people in the room, then pointed back out toward the hall. “One of them. You have a gene, Ellie. The Gifted gene. I have it. Granny has it. Your mother had it.”
    Angel pulled her hand back from where she’d been picking a piece of food out of her teeth, and added, “Even me.”
    “Seriously? I have a-a gene, a special gene?” Ellie looked at Grace. “You have it, too, Aunt Grace?”
    Grace shook her head. “No, not me. Grampa Ellicott, your mom, and your Uncle Sam, they all had it, not me. You inherited the gene from your mom.”
    Ellie seemed tickled by the news. “So what does it do? What is this Gifted thing? Will it make me super smart or give me bionic hearing or something?”
    Joe grinned. “Uh, no bionic body parts, but super smart or super talented…yeah.”
    Granny broke in, “Everyone who has the gene is gifted at something. They’ll have a superior ability in one particular area that goes beyond anything normal humans can attain, if it’s nurtured properly. The skill might be scholarly, such as science or math or languages, or something creative, like writing, music, or art—”
    “Poppy,” Ellie said matter-of-factly.
    Granny nodded. “Yes, Poppy Prentiss is a remarkably talented visual artist. But there are other, more subtle Gifts, too. Leadership, persuasion, healing…like Joseph Manning.”
    Then Joe motioned toward Angel. “And some are physically gifted, as with strength, speed, and agility. They may be sports stars or experts in the defensive arts.”
    Ellie raised