The Seven Devils (YA "New Adult" Romance) (14 page)

Chapter 16

It only took a moment for me to run into the house and grab my bag, but Neil insisted on coming in with me. He had been quiet since leaving the school and I could tell he was still very agitated. I almost wished Derrick had hit me there in the hallway. He seemed as if he wasn’t going to give up until he had gotten back at me in some way. Maybe if I could just find a few more moments alone with him this could all be over. It would hurt, sure, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

I sat in the center of Neil’s long front seat on the drive to the lake instead of by my window, and I leaned my body up against his. He wrapped his right arm around me and held me throughout the drive.

When Neil pulled off the road onto a private lane with trees flanking each side, he stopped the car and turned to me. “Are you sure you still want to do this? We could put it off if you would like,” he said, stroking my cheek softly.

I shook my head. “No, I want this now. I don’t want any more secrets between us,” I said resolutely. Neil kissed the top of my head and continued down the lane. At the end of the path there was a cute wood cabin right at the edge of the lake. I couldn’t help but get excited looking at it. I was expecting something smaller and more run down, but this place looked as if it had just been built within the last couple of years.

“My father had it built last year,” Neil said, seemingly reading my mind. “My parents come down here when they’re sick of dealing with me.”

I sat back and remembered what his father said as Neil parked and opened my door for me. When he unlocked the door of the cabin and led me in I gasped. I pictured the inside as having a rustic décor, but it was luxury all the way for Neil’s parents. There was a large kitchen with cherry cabinets and granite countertops, a huge leather sofa and love seat, a plasma tv, and a small dining area. The bathroom was the only room that wasn’t open to the others and I saw a large glass shower and Jacuzzi tub inside. There was a small set of stairs to the side of the television that led to the loft overhead where there was a huge bed, piled high with pillows.

“They must have a lot of money,” I said impulsively.

Neil shrugged and put our bags on the dining table. He turned to face me again and stared deeply into my eyes until I had to look away, blushing. He walked back towards me and ran his hands up and down my arms. “I would like to relax for a little while before we really get into it all, if that is okay with you. I’m still a little…” He broke off without ending his sentence.

“Angry?” I suggested.

Neil half smiled. “I don’t think anger covers how I feel about him. Would you mind if I lay down for a bit? This isn’t exactly how I pictured our trip going,” he added apologetically.

“I’ll join you,” I said timidly as I followed him up the stairs to the loft. We slid into the bed fully clothed and the anxiety I was feeling seemed to melt right out of me. The bed was amazingly soft. I laid on my right side and Neil wrapped himself around me from behind. His breath, warm on the back of my neck, was soothing and I felt safe and calm. I forgot about what had happened earlier at school and drifted into a deep sleep.

I awoke to humming a couple of hours later. For a moment I couldn’t remember where I was until I glanced over the loft’s railings and saw Neil below me, cooking in the kitchen.

“I didn’t know you knew how to cook,” I said smiling.

“That’s why we’re here, right?” he said back, grinning. “There is a lot about me you need to know.”

I stretched and slid out of the bed, though it was so comfortable I just wanted to stay in it forever. “I’m sorry I fell asleep,” I said, once I joined Neil in the kitchen. “Are you feeling better now?”

“Much,” he said, kissing me softly. “Go ahead and sit down. This is just about ready.”

I sat at the table and a moment later he brought me a plate piled high with a chicken and rice dish, steamed broccoli, and apple slices. Everything looked great. He returned a moment later with his own plate and a pitcher of lemonade.

“This looks wonderful,” I said, grinning as he sat down beside me.

We kissed softly and he said, “As soon as we finish here, we can get started. Did you have questions you wanted to ask me, or do you just want me to start talking?”

I began eating and thought about his question. “I guess you should just begin,” I said, “and I’ll interrupt if I have questions.”

“Sounds fair enough,” Neil said. “And I’m sure you’ll have lots of questions. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable the whole time. If at any point you want to leave, let me know. I’ll drive you, or if you prefer, I’ll have a cab pick you up.”

“Neil what could you possibly tell me that would make me want to leave like that?” I asked.

Neil hesitated briefly. “Just… keep it in mind,” he said.

I nodded and continued with my dinner. As soon as we were both finished, he took the dishes and piled them into the sink. “I’m a little nervous,” Neil said, clearly embarrassed. “I’ve never done this before… told anyone everything.”

I put my arms around his waist. “You can trust me,” I said. Neil nodded, but still looked nervous.

We sat on the gigantic sofa in the living room area and he seemed to not know where to start.

“Do you have any guesses about what I brought you here to talk about?” he asked.

I blushed and looked out the window. “It’s stupid,” I said, “my guess.”

Neil grinned. “Tell me anyways.”

I giggled softly and felt incredibly stupid. “I think you’re psychic,” I said. “You always know when I’ll be in trouble and you come to stop it.”

Neil smiled. “That’s not stupid, and you aren’t that far off from the truth.”

I stared at him, amazed. I thought he would laugh at me. “What is it?”

Neil rubbed the back of his neck and looked uncomfortable. “There are… seven things. Seven things that make me different than everyone else, from what I can tell. There could be more, I suppose, but so far I have identified seven key differences.”

I smiled. “This sounds kind of exciting,” I said, trying to remain serious.

“Easy for you to say,” Neil said, chuckling. “I’m terrified here.” I went to say something but he held up a hand and stopped me. “I’m just going to lay it out as simply as I can and then let you either run screaming through the night or stay and ask me questions.”

I nodded and waited patiently as he fought some sort of battle within himself. “Like I said,” he began, “there are seven things. I think of them as my seven devils.” He glanced into my eyes to see how I was taking it so far, but I was simply waiting for more information.

“First,” he said, “I can… read minds.”

I couldn’t help it; I rolled my eyes. I could tell Neil was planning on naming all seven right then in a row, but he paused at my reaction. “Prove it,” he said, which was exactly what I had been thinking at the time.

I stared at him. “That was too easy, of course that would be what I was thinking. Try… this,” I said, thinking of the most obscure thing I could.

“Tiger Woods,” Neil said instantly, “He’s wearing a red shirt, black pants, black cap… holding a golf club. His arm is in the air as if he is celebrating a particularly good shot.”

I stared. It was exactly, down to the last detail, what I had been thinking of. It was a poster in my brother’s room; a room Neil had never been in.

“Ellen,” Neil said tentatively. “How are you doing? Are you okay so far?”

I continued to stare. “How?” I asked in disbelief.

Neil shook his head. “That’s the one question I have a hard time answering. Believe me, I’m trying to understand why I can do these things that others can’t, but so far I don’t have any real answers.”

“So your…” I began.

“No, my parents can’t read minds. They’re completely normal people. And I wasn’t adopted and I’m not some sort of mutant or alien as far as I know,” he added.

I didn’t even bother to think through all the implications of having a boyfriend who can read minds. “What else,” I asked, “I want to know the other six.”

Neil nodded. “One, I can read minds. Two, I can project my thoughts into other people’s minds. Three, I can read people’s feelings. Four, I can project feelings into others. Five, I can enter people’s dreams and control what they see. Six, I can sway people’s thoughts and actions.”

“And seven?” I said in a whisper.

Neil looked away. “Seven means I can touch,” he said quietly, looking back into my eyes.

I was about to ask what he meant when I felt him put his arms around me from behind. His warm breath was on the back of my neck again, yet he was plainly sitting right in front of me. I jumped out of my seat and Neil rose slowly and backed away from me. “Would you like to leave?” he asked softly.

I ignored his question. “How did you do that?” I demanded.

“That was simple,” he answered. “Every touch, every sensation sends certain signals to your brain. I essentially just flipped the same switches that were activated earlier when I held you in bed. I can make you feel things you have never felt before, but it requires a great deal more effort on my part.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, then I took his hand and guided us both back down onto the couch. “Explain them all, just like you did with that one. How do you do each? What is it like?” I said.

“You’re not afraid?” Neil asked seriously.

I smiled. “I’m completely freaked out, but I’m not afraid of you. I just want to know more.”

Neil seemed much more at ease after that. “Okay, reading minds. I can hear your thoughts just as clearly as I can hear your actual voice. It is the same with everyone else to varying degrees. I can hear every thought they think, and I can also delve deeper into their memories and have access to all they know.” He hesitated for a moment. “I’ve known everything about you before we ever met.”

“But how?” I asked.

“I was there with you in the woods,” Neil explained. “Your first full day in Minster you went out into the woods and I was there too. I had heard your thoughts and could tell you were new in town. I came closer and was… enchanted. I couldn’t stop listening. Not only are you a stunning beauty,” he said, tracing my lips with his finger, “but I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re so innately good and kind.”

He paused for a moment. “The first day of school, I was afraid to speak to you. Afraid to find out you were not as good in person as you are in your head. I was afraid you’d try to fit in with the others. Once we were sitting together, I sort of tested you,” he added bashfully. “I purposefully asked you things you would not want to answer, such as your full name. And you told me the truth,” he said, grinning. “You’re truly amazing.”

“You can read my mind,” I said, thinking out loud. Suddenly I gasped. “Is that why you broke up with me?”

Neil frowned. “I heard your thoughts about Derrick. I knew you were attracted to him and wondered what it would be like to go out with him. I was hurt and convinced myself that you should get what you wanted, even though I knew what kind of man he is.”

“I was so stupid,” I said, holding Neil’s hand.

Neil shook his head. “No, I was so stupid. I let my pain put you into a dangerous situation. I won’t forgive myself for that.”

“Go on to the next one,” I prompted. “What was number two?”

I can project thoughts, Neil’s voice said in my head. My eyes widened. “That’s so creepy,” I said.

Neil laughed. “I can hear your thoughts, so to insert my own into your mind, I just follow your thought trail backwards and implant my own message in that center of the brain.”

I shook my head, not knowing what to think. “And three?”

“I always know exactly how you and everyone else is feeling. Your emotions are as visible to me as the color of your shirt,” he replied.