Part 13 (1/2)

True, but I didn't care. Besides, I'd had worse headaches. Perhaps I should have been grateful he was concerned about me, but I wasn't. I wanted to prove my worth and I didn't want him s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g it up. So I ignored the pain and I tried to ignore Lewis.

I took in a deep breath, gritted my teeth and with an internal roar, I pushed as hard as I could. The pressure gave way instantly. The shock moved from my body and I was left cold, alone in my steel room. For a moment it felt as if I floated. Then I heard the cry. Not in my mind, but outside my body. Shocked, I jerked from my dreamland and dove back into cold reality.

I opened my eyes, my breathing harsh. The room wavered in and out of focus. For a brief moment, I wasn't sure where I was; I wasn't even sure who I was. There was a movement across from me and it all came rus.h.i.+ng back.

Aaron lay on his back, staring up at me with wide, unblinking eyes. His face was pale, sweaty. For a horrifying moment I thought he was dead.

”My G.o.d,” he whispered. ”That was...”

”I'm sorry.” I crawled toward him, my body too weak to walk. ”Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry.”

He laughed, sitting upright. ”No. Don't be sorry.” He paused for one long moment, breathing as harshly as I was. ”That was unbelievable. I wasn't using full strength, but close.”

Tucking his feet underneath him, he stood, his body trembling with the movement. I jumped to my feet, searching the dark room for Lewis. He stood back in the shadows, his face unreadable.

”Seriously, I'm so sorry,” I said, hoping he believed me.

”Don't be. Are you kidding? That was amazing.” Aaron looked at Lewis, but Lewis was looking toward the windows. ”Did you see that?”

”How much did it hurt?” Lewis asked, ignoring Aaron and glancing back at me.

I pressed my hands to my temples. They were thumping slightly, but it wasn't unbearable. The numbness in my body had given way to an odd s.h.i.+mmering current. ”I'm okay. Just a slight headache.” Is that why he was frowning?

”You sure you're okay?” he asked.

Aaron laughed and thumped Lewis on the back. ”She's fine, in fact, she's great.”

He clasped my shoulders. ”I knew it; I knew you'd be just like your father.”

Shockingly, he pulled me close for a tight hug. Although I should have been embarra.s.sed, I liked his affection, craved the attention like some pathetic druggie.

I sank into his body. And I wanted to be thrilled, I should have been thrilled, but when I looked over Aaron's shoulder, I saw that Lewis was still frowning.

Was he jealous? Worried? Or was there something more to that dour look?

Chapter 12.

The drive to town seemed to take forever, every moment lasting an eternity. I wasn't sure what to talk about and apparently neither was Lewis as we remained awkwardly silent. I still had a little bit of a headache, but the thrill of being on a date overrode the pain and I didn't want to be home right now.

”You're doing really well, Cam,” Lewis said, finally breaking the silence.

I smiled, but I didn't want to talk about my abilities or lack thereof. Besides, if I was doing so well, why had he looked so dour after I'd thrown Aaron on his b.u.t.t? ”Thanks.”

No, I didn't want to talk about me, and I didn't want to talk about Lewis's odd reaction. I couldn't stand the thought that he might be jealous of my powers. There was only one thing I wanted to know about and that was Lewis himself. I wasn't sure where he'd come from, who his family was, nothing. Of course I couldn't read his mind, so that didn't help.

”Headache?”

”Huh?”

He looked pointedly at me and I realized I'd been rubbing my temples. I lowered my hands to my lap. ”Maybe a little.”

He shrugged, slowing the car as we entered town. The street lights flashed across his face. Was it my imagination or did he look a little pale? ”When I first learned how to block my thoughts I'd get headaches.”

My interest piqued. I knew Aaron had taken him in, but at what age had he started training? ”Oh, yeah?”

”It will get better soon.” He stopped in front of a large Victorian inn and restaurant. The place was glowing with lamplight, behind it the setting sun sent brilliant orange rays across the bay. It was gorgeous. Romantic. So, why was I suddenly uneasy to be here with him?

Because while stepping out of the car, the cool night air tugging at my hair and the skirt of my dress, I remembered this was a date...a real date. I hadn't been on a date in forever. During my junior year, I'd started going out with my first real boyfriend. A month later, when he'd realized he wasn't going to get laid, I'd heard he was going to dump me. So I dumped him first. To be honest, I'd only gone out with him so I could double date with Emily. But it still stung. Now...my G.o.d, now I was on a date with a guy who actually liked me. Then again, if what Olivia said was true, he only liked me for now...until the next woman came along.

His warm hand rested at the small of my back as we made our way up the wide wooden steps to the restaurant. Only a few people were in the building, most tourists having gone to dry land for the winter season. The inside lobby had a large antique desk. Flowered wallpaper decorated the walls and a golden chandelier dangled from above. Yep, definitely a date.

”Lewis!” A gorgeous hostess wearing a short black skirt rushed forward with a ready smile on her face. Startled, I stepped aside. She gave Lewis a tight hug and Olivia's annoying comment came roaring back.

You think you're the first one Lewis has led on?

I stood there awkwardly as they talked about where Lewis had been. He brushed off her comment with an answer about visiting friends on the mainland. I had to resist the urge to push myself between them and say, ”Here I am!”

It seemed like an eternity before he finally looked at me. ”This is Cameron.” He took my hand, pulling me forward.

She seemed sincere when she smiled and her kindness made me feel somewhat better. It didn't last. ”You want your usual table?”

Usual? In that he came here often... with other girls? This date was quickly turning into a nightmare and the worst part was that I knew I was being ridiculous.

”Yeah, near the windows.”

He led me toward the back of the restaurant, a large open area that had obviously been added onto the building at a later date. He was still smiling, completely oblivious to the fact that I'd turned into a silly, jealous girl. And I was being silly, I knew that, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. He pulled out a chair for me, the perfect gentleman. The chatter in the room was a soft murmur that I barely heard, I was too intent on knowing what Lewis was thinking, secretly hoping his wall would slip and a thought would seep out. I know, I was pathetic.

”I love this spot,” he said. ”You can see the bay, the boats coming in, the sun setting. Perfect.”

”Yeah.” I swallowed hard and looked out the large floor to ceiling windows, but the beauty of nature was completely lost on me. ”You come here often then?”

He shrugged, unconcerned by my question. ”There aren't many other places to go on the island.”

I suppose he was right. But Olivia's comment was still there, taunting me. Why was I letting her get to me? But I knew why, because deep down I couldn't believe that someone like Lewis would really like me. G.o.d, I was no better than Annabeth. I'd been playing second fiddle to Emily for way too long. It had destroyed my self-confidence.

An older woman dressed in black with a white ap.r.o.n took our orders, leaving us with a basket of bread. The moment she left, Lewis leaned across the table.

”So,” he said, staring at me intently. ”What's wrong?”

”Nothing,” I replied a little too quickly.

He nodded slowly, but I could see he had his misgivings. ”You sure?”

I unfolded the white napkin wrapped around my silverware. ”Yeah, fine.” I laughed, but it came out sounding a little manic. Olivia had turned me into a crazy woman, which is probably what she was hoping to do. ”Where's your family?”

He blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. Good, I wanted to catch him off guard. ”Ummm, dead.”