“Now, I want you to picture a shimmering, silver wall in front of you. Nothing can get in through this wall, nothing. You are protected.”
Easy enough. The silver wall was there, hovering around me protectively.
“Now Cameron,” Aaron was back, his voice replacing Dad’s. “I’m going to ring for a maid. She doesn’t know we can read minds. You’ll keep your eyes closed when she enters. She thinks I’m teaching you to meditate. You’ll hear her thoughts, but I want you to try and block them. The moment you hear her words, you’ll picture your ocean. You’ll smell the salt, you’ll hear the waves. When her thoughts come at you, you’ll push against that silver wall, push her thoughts back toward her. They will not penetrate that wall.”
I think I nodded. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t care. I only wanted to continue to float into oblivion, in my make-believe world. There was a soft rustle of movement as he made his way to the door to call for the maid. My mind reached for the noise, wanted to focus on his movements and drag me back to reality.
Keep breathing, I heard Lewis’s voice whisper through my head. Focus on your breathing…focus on those waves.
A few moments later I heard the door crack open.
She’s here, Lewis said. Suddenly he appeared sitting on that blanket beside me, wavering in and out of focus through that silver wall. Was I imagining him, or had he placed himself in my mind? He looked gorgeous with the wind blowing through his dark hair, the sun warming his skin.
But don’t focus on her, he continued. Let your mind wander, listen to her thoughts but keep your eyes closed.
“Sarah,” Aaron’s voice was low and calming as he spoke to the maid. “Can you make sure it’s kept quiet today? We’re meditating.”
“Yes, of course,” the maid replied, but I was more interested in her thoughts. What is she doing? Sometimes I really don’t understand these kids.
I could practically feel the maid’s attention on me. Her gaze burning into my face.
“And make sure the windows are cleaned by tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.” I shouldn’t be surprised, weirder things have happened here. But oh well, as long as he pays me.
My mouth twitched as I resisted the urge to smile. The ocean was fading, that silver wall fading as I naturally focused on her thoughts.
Cameron, Lewis’ voice pulled me back. Focus on the ocean. Focus on your breathing. Focus on that wall. Picture the maid. She’s standing in front of you. Now push on that wall, push her thoughts back to her.
I took in a deep breath, in…out…in…out. As I focused on my breathing, their conversation faded…the maid stood before me, a woman dressed in black slacks with a white apron. Odd musical notes drifted from her head toward me. Her thoughts, I realized. The notes bounced off my wall and floated back to her.
Good. Keep picturing that wall. That silver glow around you, protecting you. Nothing can get through, nothing…the thoughts merely bounce off…
Lewis’s voice faded. All sound faded. The only noise was the soft roar of the ocean, waves coming in, waves going out. I pushed my elbows under me and sat up on the blanket. The maid was gone. The wall was gone. Even Lewis and my dad were gone. A wonderful peaceful feeling settled around me, warm, comforting, like a blanket. No one existed, I wasn’t sure if I existed. And oddly I didn’t care.
Peace. I knew complete and utter peace.
I wasn’t sure how long I sat there in wonderful, utter silence, but suddenly I felt a touch on my arm, a soft, warm touch. Reality invaded, cold and piercing. The ocean faded, blackness surrounded me. A rush of air brushed past my body, stars blindingly white blurring before me as I raced through space. Suddenly, I slammed against a wall.
Jolted, my lashes fluttered up. I was back in the study. Lewis was sitting beside me, his face tense and serious. “Are you all right?”
Even though he spoke softly, his voice sounded unnaturally loud. “Yeah.” I released a shaky breath and looked around. I felt as if I’d just woken from a super deep sleep. Aaron was sitting across from me again, the maid was gone.
“Did I…fall asleep?”
Aaron shook his head. His face was serious too. Nerves got the best of me. I felt like I’d done something wrong.
“No, you were in deep meditation,” Aaron explained.
It sounded normal enough, but they were both watching me like I was some specimen in a museum, like they were looking to explain something they couldn’t quite understand.
“Oh.” I raked my fingers through my hair. I felt shaky, disorientated, as if I’d been thrown into a cold lake. “Was that supposed to happen?”
Aaron and Lewis shared a glance. “Yes, it’s been known to.”
Yet, they looked odd, unsure. They certainly didn’t look happy. My insecurities came roaring back. “What happened? What’d I do wrong?”
“Nothing.” Aaron smiled. “It’s just…” His smile wavered. “Did you hear anything from the maid? Any thoughts at any time?”
I frowned, trying to remember, but my mind was fuzzy. “I heard Lewis inside my head.” I shot him a glance, making sure I was supposed to tell, hoping he hadn’t done something he wasn’t supposed to. At his nod, I continued. “I remember…” I clawed my way through my murky memories, but it was hard. “I remember the maid coming in. She thought…” I blushed.
Aaron nodded. “Go on.”
“She thought we…you…were weird, but she likes her pay.”
Aaron laughed softly. “Yes, I know. And then?”
“And then Lewis…he was telling me to concentrate on the waves, on the silver wall.”
“And…” Aaron urged me on, but there wasn’t really anything to say. “Nothing else after?”
I shook my head. They shared another glance. Okay, they were totally making me paranoid. “What?” I demanded. I couldn’t take not knowing any longer.
“Well…it’s just that…” Aaron frowned. “The maid was here for a good ten minutes.”
“Oh.” I cheered up immediately. Why did they look so dour? I thought they’d wanted me to meditate well? “So I did it? I blocked her thoughts?”
Lewis nodded. But they didn’t look as thrilled as I felt.
“And then another maid came in. Then, Lewis opened his mind and let his thoughts flow out….” Aaron studied me for one long moment. “You didn’t sense or feel any of this?”
Lewis had opened his thoughts? Ugh, I wish I could have heard them. I tried desperately to turn my mind backward, but could remember nothing but the beach. I was starting feel like a disappointment. I hated that feeling. “No, I didn’t sense any of it. Should I have?”
“No.” He laughed a merry sound that made me feel somewhat better. “No. It’s wonderful.”
“It is?” I looked at Lewis for confirmation. He was finally smiling too.
“Your concentration is wonderful. Your ability to block everything…amazing.” Aaron shook his head. “If only you’d been taught meditation early on. Hell, if you’d done yoga it would have come out.”
He took my hand and helped me to my feet. I still felt a little weak, but his praise gave me strength. “You’re doing amazingly well, Cameron. So much better than I’d expected.”
I nodded slowly, watching Lewis as he walked toward the windows. He stared outside, as if in deep thought. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was contemplating. He seemed upset…or maybe just lost, confused, I wasn’t sure.
“I’ve invited a few people from town, normal people,” Aaron said, forcing my attention back to him. “In two nights there will be a dinner party here.”
Normal people? I didn’t want normal people here. Normal people had made my life miserable. I wanted to be surrounded by people like me. “Okay.”
Surely Aaron heard the reservations coming from my mind, but he didn’t seem to care. “And during that party, I want you to try to block their thoughts. Think you’d like to try?”
I shrugged. I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t want to disappoint Aaron. I slid Lewis a
glance. He nodded, as if sensing my unease. “Sure, I guess.”
Aaron smiled, a pride in his eyes that I’d never experienced before. The sort of pride only a father could give a daughter. I liked it more than I wanted to admit. “You’ll concentrate, just like you did today. But don’t worry, we’ll practice more in the next couple days.”
“Sure.”
He cupped my shoulders and drew me close into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, Cameron.”
Warm giddiness swept through my body, this deep sated need that was finally being filled. This is what it felt like to have your parent’s approval. I squeezed my eyes shut and dared to hug him back. I knew, in that moment, I’d do pretty much anything Aaron asked.
Chapter 10
I’d never really had the opportunity to dress up. At last year’s prom I had pretended I would be out of town, partly because I couldn’t afford a dress, partly because I was afraid no one would ask me. Hearing about how much fun everyone had had made me wish I’d gone. I’d been planning to go this year. Now…well, I was no longer a student and the realization that I’d miss out on something so major made me somewhat sad. That is until the dress Aaron had bought me for the dinner party arrived.
Instead of prom, I tried to focus on the fact that I was wearing a totally cute dress with a halter type neckline and an A-line skirt that landed at my knees. It was more mature than I normally wore, but not too sexy. When I’d put the dress on, I’d noticed the tag said Louis Vuitton. I was no fashion expert, but I knew expensive clothing when I saw it. Once again I was aware that Aaron had money. But how? From what I could see, he didn’t work.
I pulled on my Gucci high heels. Blue, to match the dress. The heels weren’t high, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t used to wearing dress shoes and for a moment, I wavered on my feet.
“Must be nice.”
I spun around, teetering as I did. Olivia stood in the doorway, chewing on a strand of her hair while she glared daggers at me.
I resisted the urge to grimace. I’d only been here a few days and already had an enemy. “What must be nice?” I grabbed onto the post of my bed, regaining my balance.
She slumped against the doorjamb. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans, apparently her normal garb. “I said it must be nice to be Aaron’s new favorite toy.”
I bristled at her comment. “I don’t know what you mean.”
She laughed, but didn’t look me in the eyes, instead focusing on the floor. “Right.”
She was jealous, obviously. I didn’t blame her. Aaron was awesome and I was taking his attention away from her. But she probably had no idea that Aaron was practically an uncle, so of course he felt a connection with me. “Listen, Aaron knew my dad…”
Her black eyes darted up to me. “So?”
So I can’t help it if you’re jealous.
She narrowed her gaze into a glare. “I’m not jealous, for your information.” She took a step back. “Just be prepared when he tosses you aside for someone new.”
She left me standing there in shock, hugging the bedpost. Surely Aaron wouldn’t toss me aside. We were practically related. She was just jealous, I repeated to myself. In fact it made me feel a little good, in a twisted way, that finally someone was jealous of me. Aaron thought of me as a daughter, it was obvious. And little miss dark and dour couldn’t stand that. I sighed. I really hated having enemies.
“You ready?” Lewis appeared in the doorway looking like a model in a magazine.
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, sighing with oppressed lust, those little sluts. He wore a black suit that made his blue eyes pop. I noticed almost immediately that the blue shirt underneath matched my dress. Had he worn that shirt on purpose? I took my lower lip between my teeth. Dang, he looked great. I was gawking, I realized and quickly looked away.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” My voice came out a little breathless. I wished I could read his mind, wished I knew what he was thinking…
He cringed, his hands jerking to his head.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, just…a little headache all of a sudden.” He frowned, his gaze piercing mine. “Did you try to read my mind?”
Confused, I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I don’t know how.” I’d wanted to read his mind, but I hadn’t, had I? So why was I flushing like I was guilty.
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It’s nothing, it’s gone. Come on.” He took my hand and I practically fell into him. My body hitting his in an embarrassing display of awkwardness.
“Sorry,” I muttered, pushing away. “I’m not use to heels.” I blushed at the admission and seeing my red face, Lewis laughed.
“All right, then just hold onto me.”
Yes, sir, no problem there. I’d gladly cling to Lewis. I looked down at the carpet and slipped my arm through his, my hand sliding over the smooth, cool material of his jacket. “I didn’t realize this would be so formal.”
He shrugged and led me into the hall. “We’re always kind of formal.”
In other words they were rich. Rich people were always formal, at least in my experience. I frowned, wondering once again how they made their money. “What, exactly does Aaron do?”
“You mean for work?”
“Yes.”
He shrugged. “To be honest, Aaron comes from family money. His parents were rich, his grandparents. Railroad, oil, something or another. But don’t worry, I mean…no one’s a snob or anything.”
“Oh, okay.” But it wasn’t okay. I wasn’t used to dressing so fancy, or using more than 3 pieces of silverware at dinner. I’d look like a total dork. Even now I could barely stand in heels. And please, I knew more than anyone how snobby people with money could act.
Lewis rested his hand on mine, drawing my attention to him. He looked confused for a moment, his dark brows drawn together. Our steps slowed as I waited to see what was bothering him. His lips parted as if he was going to say something, but instead he shook his head, remaining stubbornly silent.
“What?” I asked, feeling completely self-conscious. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He gave me a half-smile, his checks flushing. “It’s just…I’m not used to reading body signals.”
We paused at the top of the steps. “What do you mean?”
He looked away, as if he was suddenly shy. “I’m not reading your thoughts and I meant it when I told you I’d stopped. But…now I’m wondering what the heck you’re thinking and I don’t like not knowing. Are you flushing because you’re nervous? Excited?”
In love with you. I grinned, relieved his problems weren’t anything more serious. “Now you know how I felt when I met you.”
We started down the steps slowly, both of us wanting to prolong the moment. “So, I guess we’re even then.”
I bit my lower lip to keep from grinning. I loved when he teased me and we’d been so serious studying meditation and blocking thoughts the last few days that it hadn’t happened often. “I guess so.”
“Cameron, Lewis,” Aaron called up to us. “You ready?”
I was disappointed that my time with Lewis was over but eager to try my new ability. More eager to impress Aaron. I’d been meditating a few times a day, but still, I felt the tingle of nerves as Lewis and I arrived in the foyer. They treated me like some sort of prodigy. I wasn’t complaining…much. It was odd going from being ashamed to proud of what I could do. But I couldn’t help but worry I’d disappoint Aaron and then…who knew. He’d toss me from the house in shame? Find a new toy, as Olivia had said?
“You look lovely,” Aaron said and kissed my cheek in a fatherly show of affection.
I flushed, unused to compliments. “Thanks.”
He pulled back, but his spicy cologne lingered around me, comforting. “Now, there are only a few people here, no need to worry. Lewis will help you out.”
I nodded, nerves making my stomach churn.
Aaron took my hand, pulling me away from Lewis. “You’ll be f
ine. Just make polite conversation and try to keep that wall in place.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me toward the living room, or parlor as they called it here. I looked back, needing to see Lewis. He smiled at me, his presence giving me strength.
Before we made it into the room, a tall woman in a short, tight black dress came toward us. She didn’t seem to have any problem walking in her heels, which were a good inch taller than mine. She was thin with tanned skin and long, black hair. Indian? I wasn’t sure. She was gorgeous and could’ve easily been a model. Was everyone here beautiful? I shifted, my stupid insecurity rushing back.
“Cameron,” Aaron started. “This is Deborah, she helps around the house, sort of a dorm mom. If you need anything, she’ll be happy to help you.”
Dorm mom? As if I’d believe that this woman, with her supermodel looks, was a glorified nanny. And how many children were here, anyway? Besides that small child I’d seen the first day and Olivia, I’d met no one else. She smiled, but her dark eyes remained cold. Without a word to me, she leaned closer to Aaron and whispered something I couldn’t hear. The way they whispered, the way she slipped her arm through his, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were dating. She sashayed away without a goodbye or nice to meet you and I was left to wonder who she really was.
Aaron took my arm and pulled me into the room. Lewis had said only a few normal people would be here, but there were at least ten guests gathered in the large room. I swallowed my nerves and pasted a smile upon my face. A rush of thoughts and conversation bombarded my mind. After having gone days in silence, the sudden invasion was almost too much. My skull seemed to expand, my brain aching.
I would have staggered back if Aaron hadn’t been holding me upright.
“You all right?” Lewis was suddenly by my side, his face showing his concern.
When he held out his hand, I took it. “Yeah, just not use to all the thoughts. Didn’t sleep well last night. I could have sworn I heard someone crying.”