Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle) Read Online Free PDF

response. The initial spark is followed by a very pleasant warm feeling, though I don’t know if the warmth is caused by my attraction to him or our shared psychic bond. It’s not like I can ask him yet.
    “Well, I have to get to the theater for rehearsal,” Celia says in a bright chirp. She is Juliet in the fall production of Romeo and Juliet. “Call me later tonight, Kacie,” she calls over her shoulder while leading Jake away by the hand.
    As I watch their blond heads disappear into the crowd, I realize her relationship with Jake has lasted six weeks, heading to a new record since she still seems infatuated with him. She’s not the only one with ammo for a phone call tonight. With a chuckle, I turn back to my locker and remove several notebooks, stuffing them into my backpack.
    “Are you ready?” Logan asks in a soft murmur.
    Closing my locker, I nod and smile at him, trying to hide my anxiety. Why did I agree to go to this club meeting? What if they sacrifice goats to some pagan god or something? Laughter wells up within at the absurd image of an animal sacrifice occurring on the third floor of the Sciences building. Besides, it couldn’t be a goat—it would have to be a cat or a fetal pig since that’s what the AP biology class is dissecting this year. I guess it could be a crawfish or an earthworm since the regular biology classes dissect those.
    My laughter finally bubbles out when I picture figures in black robes sacrificing an earthworm to their pagan god. I feel Logan’s eyes on me. When I glance at him, he has a strange, indecipherable look on his face.
    “Are you alright?” he asks, concern clouding his features.
    “Yeah, just a little nervous,” I reply, fighting another blush that threatens to form.
    He walks down the hall, navigating through the maze of students, checking back every so often to make sure I’m still following. When we pass through the doors leading out into the damp autumn air, he surprises me by heading over to a bench rather than continuing to the Sciences building.
    He sits down and motions for me to join him, so I lower myself to the gray stone bench. The stone soaked up the chilled rain today, and the cold passes through my jeans up into my body. I’ve always enjoyed cool weather, probably a tribute to my Norse ancestry. Though I shiver a bit, I feel exhilarated as a slight breeze ruffles my hair, making it dance around my head.
    “I’m gonna break the rules and give you a heads up about us,” Logan says in a very low voice.
    My eyes fly to his in surprise. He moves closer to me on the bench so our legs are touching.
    “We are a paranormal research group. Hunters you might say, hence the name Orion. I know you’re already aware there’s more out there than meets the eye, but you’ll be surprised by just how much more there really is.”
    He’s speaking in a very low voice, obviously not wanting to be overheard. I use this as an excuse to lean a little closer to him.
    “So you investigate hauntings?” I murmur, intrigued by the idea.
    “Not just hauntings, anything supernatural,” he replies. I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. “I can’t go into more detail until you’re a member. But don’t worry, Kacie. I’ll be right beside you today, and by tonight you’ll be a member, then we can talk.”
    He stands and extends his hand to me. Taking his hand, I allow him to pull me from the bench. There’s no spark or jolt this time, just pleasant warmth that permeates me.
    “It appears our powers are adjusting to each other,” he comments, a smile lighting his face.
    “You know, my Dad always told me to hide my abilities,” I admit with a resounding sigh at the pain deeply ingrained from such a young age. “He said people wouldn’t understand. It embarrassed him when I’d talk to someone only visible to me. I’ve never had anyone to talk to before, you know about when things get scary.”
    The last part comes out a whisper as images from my