Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle) Read Online Free PDF Page B

recurring dream surface unbidden. VISION , my brain shouts, making me cringe. Fine vision , I accede, trying to mollify my volatile powers.
    “You’re not alone anymore, Kacie,” Logan says as he leads the way to the Sciences building, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. “You can talk to me whenever you want, even two in the morning if needed.”
    A smile lights my face at his generous offer, and for the first time since my mother walked out on us six years ago, I feel as though a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Chapter Five — The Orion Circle
    Chapter Five
    The Orion Circle

    The rain begins again as I follow Logan up the eastern stairwell of the Sciences building. It turns from a drizzle to a deluge, creating a loud roar all around us. Cold shivers race through my body by the time we reach the third flight of stairs. A giant skylight covers the ceiling above us revealing the darkened sky through the sheet of rain running across the glass.
    Thunder sounds in the distance, a low rolling rumble. Logan pauses at the top of the stairs right in front of the door that must lead to the loft area. He grins at me and gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before opening the door and ushering me through.
    The room beyond is enormous, a wide open space that covers at least a third of the building. Floor to ceiling windows span the length of the room revealing the fierce flood of rain outside. In a way, the space reminds me of a loft apartment. There’s a small kitchenette in one corner beside a cozy nook featuring a table and six chairs.
    Bookcases cover the wall across from the expanse of windows, filled with an amazing array of books—some so old they look like they might crumble if touched by a rough hand. Two sofas and several plush chairs flank the bookshelves creating a pleasant sitting area. Following Logan across the large room, I see our destination before we arrive. On the far end of the room there’s a long conference table surrounded by numerous black leather chairs.
    Most of the chairs are filled, some by students I recognize and a few by adults I don’t know. As we approach I count eight students and three adults. My stomach clenches as nervousness sets in. I really have no idea what to expect, but the eleven pairs of eyes staring at me are disconcerting to say the least. When we arrive at the conference area, Logan stops and places his hand on my back in a reassuring gesture. A rather timely move considering I was contemplating my chances of escape. I glance at him, and he flashes a serene smile at me.
    “This is Kacie Ramsey,” Logan addresses the group. “She’s here at my invitation as a potential initiate to the Orion Circle.”
    An adult stands, I recognize him as the AP physics teacher though I can’t remember his name.
    “Welcome, Kacie, I’m Roger Kincaid, the faculty advisor for the Orion Circle,” he says, crossing over to shake my hand. “We have a few tests for you before we vote on whether you shall be admitted into the Circle. Michelle, you can go first.”
    One of the students rises from her chair and beckons at me to follow. She leads me away from the conference area to several closed doors I hadn’t noticed before. One has a sign showing a man and a woman, a bathroom, leaving four other doors a mystery. She opens the farthest door and ushers me into a small conference room. I watch her sit at the table, my heart hammering in my chest. My body is frozen by nerves as I stand rigid, my eyes darting around the small room. When she motions for me to join her at the table, I hesitate.
    “Logan has told us about you,” she says, folding her hands on the table. “It’s okay. I just want to talk.”
    Blowing a breath out in a long sigh, I sit in a chair across the table. Her brown hair is tied in a short ponytail behind her head, though stray hair has fallen out to frame her face in frizzy curls. San Antonio humidity can be murder on hair. My hand passes through my