INTEGRATION (Bonfire Academy Book Two) (Bonfire Chronicles) Read Online Free PDF Page B

bit trickier, though. His background is very vague. I did explain to his father that if there was any such history, it would be important to share that with us, especially since he could be wasting his money on this chamber. His father was not forthcoming about the family history, but he paid for the facility, fully warned. So I have to assume that Mason’s not a Wanderer, though I can’t be sure. If the containment chamber works, we’ll be sure that he isn’t. And if it doesn’t…well, the only natural conclusion is that he is. We don’t know of any other way of escaping this chamber. Although Faustine is still an enigma.”
    Yes. But she wasn’t an enigma. Not to me. Faustine could not be contained, but that was because of a Wanderer—Ryker. Ryker, who happened to be Mason’s adoptive brother. Was it possible that Ryker had sprung Mason out of the chamber at Boone Academy? I’d have to find out. Professor Bern didn’t seem to have considered the possibility that someone else would help her students escape the chamber. Why would she? “What do you need me to do?” I asked.
    “Well, you will continue to be involved with Faustine’s training. We’ve only just begun to gain insight into her powers; she has a lot of work to do before she can fully immerse herself into the Integration process. However, I have another project for you.” She shifted, looking very uncomfortable.
    “What?”
    She cast a glance over my shoulder, blinking nervously at me.
    I turned around, and through the thick glass of the containment chamber, the beady eyes of an eagle glared back at me. I shuddered.

 
    W TF? Mason? What the heck was he doing there? Sure, he was going to use the chamber, but not with me around! I was relieved that I was on the other side of the chamber when he suddenly pecked at the glass with his enormous beak, making me jump a little. Stupid bird.
    I turned around and glared at Professor Bern.
    “That’s your other project,” she said, her tone deadly serious, her face set in a cold mask.
    I swallowed hard. She had to be kidding. I wanted to yell and scream, but her deadpan expression had me silenced.
    “I won’t tolerate any insolence. Let me make it quite clear that any insubordinate behavior will be punished. Severely. You are my
apprentice
. This is your project. You will carry out your work to the best of your ability and report your results to me. Henri will supervise you. He is one of my most experienced and trusted assistants and was present at Faustine’s sessions.
    “It’s not what you were expecting, I know. However, as we have discussed, Mason needs the containment chamber, so it only makes sense that you oversee his process as well.” Professor Bern threw Mason a death glare, and he immediately transformed into his human form.
    Not that he was any more palatable in his human form. In fact, I almost preferred the bird version. He tried to lock me in his stare, but I made sure not to look at his face. I turned to Professor Bern instead.
    “Are you ready to talk to him?” she asked sharply, snapping me back to reality.
    I nodded, feeling numb.
    “Wonderful. Remember, he’s just an Integrate, one that still has a lot of work to do on exploring and developing his powers, much the same as Faustine. Neither of them was able to get as much done as they should have during their Initiation year. So they have a lot of catching up to do, while they also take part in the Integration sessions, which I expect you to get involved with as well. However, we can discuss that later.”
    Professor Bern walked over to the armchair, sat down, and was transported back to the basement. Once the chair reappeared, I did the same. She was waiting for me downstairs, and I followed her up into the main dome.
    “Mason, please have a seat,” she said, waving at a group of metal chairs around a glass table.
    I hadn’t noticed Henri walk in, but he was already seated, and he smiled as we walked over. I waited for