Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle) (17 page)

Voices, loud mumbling. I can’t understand the words. Shouting… so much yelling. Dad… I can hear him—his voice is soft, muted. But the deep grumbling male voice, the one that hurts so much… who is he and why won’t he shut up?

“Quiet,” I whisper in a raspy voice. “Hurts…” I want to tell them what hurts but the words won’t come out.

“She’s awake,” Dad says in an urgent whisper. “Call the nurse.”

Feet shuffle. More whispers, mumbled words I can’t hear. But at least they aren’t yelling anymore. A hand grips mine, so warm on my chilled skin. My throat burns when I swallow. Need water.

“Open your eyes, pumpkin,” Dad orders in that tone he uses when he expects to be obeyed.

“Water,” I croak out as I try to lift my heavy eyelids.

Something cold and wet touches my lips. A small ice chip slides past my lips to melt on my tongue. As the water drips down my parched throat, I almost cry in relief. Before I can ask for another, one brushes against my mouth.

I manage to crack my eyes open, and immediately wish I hadn’t. The light is so bright shining off the white walls and ceiling of the room.
Hospital
, my mind whispers. Blinking against the blinding glare, my eyes focus on the face hovering above mine. I expect to see my dad, but am surprised to see Logan instead. He holds another ice chip to my lips, and I suck it into my mouth.

“What h-happened?” I ask now that my throat no longer feels like sandpaper.

“Don’t answer that, Logan,” that annoying male voice says. I try to look around for the source, but my neck ignores my command to move. “We don’t want you influencing her version of events.”

“Look, Detective, you need to come back tomorrow,” Dad says in an angry tone. “She’s in no shape to answer any questions. She just woke up for Christ’s sake.”

Before I can ask what’s going on, a nurse shows up and tries in vain to shoo the hulking man away. He stands his ground, staring at her with a hard glare. Tall and thin, he’s dressed in a rumpled brown suit that I’m pretty sure he slept in. The nurse fusses with the IV while muttering under her breath about annoying detectives.

“Okay, quit your hovering,” the nurse orders. Dad and Logan don’t move an inch from my bedside. The nurse sighs and shakes her head. “She’ll be fine now that she’s awake. The doctor has been called and will be here in a few minutes.”

“Logan, you can’t stay here,” the detective says after clearing his throat a bit too loud. “If I can’t question her now, you can’t be around her unsupervised until I do.”

“He can and will stay here,” Dad bites back. “While his parents are away, I’m acting as his guardian in this mess.”

“Just ask your stupid questions,” I murmur with an exasperated sigh. “Get it over with.”

“Not until the doctor okays it,” Dad says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“No, Dad, I want to get it over now,” I reply, pleased that my voice is stronger. “I don’t remember much anyway.”

The detective wastes no time after Dad shrugs his shoulders in defeat. “From the time you returned to the bed & breakfast after meeting with Roger Kincaid, what do you remember?”

“I remember Mrs. Anders was acting creepy, like she was on edge,” I say, cringing at the pain shooting through my head. After taking a couple deep breaths I continue. “We went inside and there was this cloying smell, like perfume or incense…”

I trail off when Logan’s fingers tighten around mine. Glancing at him from the corner of my eye, I notice an almost imperceptible shake of his head. He doesn’t want me talking about the smell. I wonder why.

“We, uh, sat down in the dining room, and Mr. Anders brought in a pitcher of lemonade.” Logan’s grip loosens a bit, and he rubs his other hand along my forearm. “I was really thirsty and drank a glass immediately. Soon after I started feeling weird. Nauseous. My brain was so fuzzy I couldn’t concentrate. My head was spinning.”

“She collapsed on the sofa, and I carried her outside,” Logan says when I don’t continue.

“Why did you take her outside?” the detective asks. “Seems strange. Wouldn’t you just leave her on the couch and call 911?”

“Normally, yeah,” Logan says, his voice steady and sure.

I already know the answer. It was the incense. He was trying to get me away from it. But that seems to be a taboo subject.

“But after our hosts acted so strange, I didn’t want to stay in the house,” he says shrugging his shoulders. “At least outside we’d be in the public eye. The Queen Anne District is full of tourists that time of night on the weekend, including a ghost tour just down the street. I needed to get my team to safety, and at the time, outside seemed safer than inside.”

“You have good instincts,” the detective says as he snaps his notepad closed.

“Well, I think you have all you need, detective,” a female voice says from the doorway. “Kacie will contact you if she remembers anything else.”

My eyes widen when the detective nods his head and exits the room without another word. Dad stares at the new arrival like she’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever seen. She is quite beautiful. Long blonde hair flows past her shoulders in a mass of large waves. Tiny crinkles frame her blue eyes when she smiles at me. A stethoscope hangs around her neck. The white coat tells me she’s a doctor. This is confirmed when she steps closer. Her name badge says Tammy Hayes, M.D. Northern Central Hospital.

Logan leans over and whispers in my ear. “She has the power of persuasion.” I suck in a surprised breath. Does he mean literally, like a magic power?

“Ah, Mr. Ramsey, it’s so good to see you again,” Dr. Hayes says in a sing-song voice. The cadence is odd—musical and mesmerizing. “You should head to the cafeteria and get some decent coffee. That machine sludge isn’t drinkable.”

“I should go get some coffee,” Dad says in a dull monotone. Before I can say a word, he’s out the door.

“That’s amazing!” I exclaim. “What a great power.”

“Not so much, actually,” she replies in a normal voice. “Before I learned to control it, I never knew if it was me or my power people liked.”

“Dr. Hayes is a member of the Orion Circle,” Logan says while his thumb brushes over the back of my hand. The motion seems nervous. Maybe he’s afraid of what she might make him do against his will. “Dr. Hayes, this is our newest member, Kacie.”

“It’s nice to see you awake, Kacie,” she says, glancing up from my chart. “How does your head feel? Still fuzzy or hazy?”

“It hurts, but no, it’s not fuzzy anymore,” I say, rubbing my temples the moment I’m reminded of the pain.

“Good. Look here, follow the light.” My eyes blink against the bright light. “I’m sorry, I know it hurts.” I follow the light, and she clicks it off several long moments later. “Your pupils are responding normally. That’s good news.” The scratching of her pen on the chart echoes in the room. “Your hearing and light sensitivity may be a touch more acute for a day or so. It’s a side effect of the witch’s bane incense she used.” At my blank look, she adds, “It’s a mixture of herbs and flowers that are especially effective on females of certain talents.”

“Why only women?” I ask.

“Something to do with the smell receptors in the brain of males versus females. What bothers me most is that she not only knew how to make it, but she had the audacity to use it.” Dr. Hayes snaps the chart closed and hangs it on the end of the bed. “The Circle will investigate this. Though the police aren’t aware of the incense due to the supernatural nature, she and her husband spiked the lemonade with flunitrazepam, also known as one of the date rape drugs. You got a large dose. Between that and the incense, you’re lucky to be awake. Both can cause coma and death in an overdose.”

“Why would she do that?” I ask in a hoarse whisper. It’s horrifying to think what might have happened if I drank that second glass of juice.

“They both cause hallucinations in small doses,” Dr. Hayes says. She pauses, glancing toward the open door. In a lower voice she adds, “Logan thinks she was desperate enough for the haunted inn rating that she drugged you to get it. He said you figured it out before you passed out.”

My jaw drops. “So she wanted me to hallucinate a ghost?” I ask, unable to get my mind around it. What kind of person would drug someone for something so asinine?

“All of us,” Logan reminds me. “My head is still killing me, and I only had half a glass. Fortunately Carl didn’t drink any and Rebecca only had a few sips. They’re both fine.”

“I don’t remember anything other than that awful incense,” I murmur, rubbing my temples with my fingertips. “Whenever I try, it hurts too much.”

“The police don’t deal in the supernatural. Most cops don’t even want to discuss it. I have no idea what their reasoning will be for the Anders’ actions,” Dr. Hayes says with a shrug. “It’s easier to keep it a secret rather than muddying the waters with things they don’t comprehend.”

She pauses, tilting her head toward the door. My father’s voice carries through the open door as he speaks with someone right outside.

“All right, young lady,” Dr. Hayes says as my father walks through the door. “We’re going to keep you under observation overnight. If you eat your meals and show no signs of vertigo or lightheadedness then I’ll discharge you either this afternoon or early evening.” She stops in front of Dad before leaving the room. “I wanted to thank you for allowing your daughter to be part of the Orion Circle. Not only will it teach her essential skills such as leadership, but it will look amazing on her college transcripts. The Circle has friends in the registrar of most major universities.”

She shakes his hand and walks out the door. Dad stares after her hypnotized. I think he’s feeling something beyond her simple compulsion skill. It’s kind of cute in a disturbing way.

“I’m going to head out, Kacie,” Logan says, squeezing my hand. “The Circle needs to meet tomorrow to discuss some important business. If it’s all right with you Mr. Ramsey, we’ll meet at your house at four p.m. so Kacie doesn’t have to travel.”

“Hmm,” Dad mutters, still staring at the vacant door Dr. Hayes passed through. “Oh, yes, that’s very thoughtful.”

His words shock me. I thought he’d be livid about the incident last night… wait was it last night?

“Um… what day is it?” I ask in a tentative whisper.

“It’s Saturday, for the last eleven minutes at least,” Logan says, glancing at his watch. “You weren’t out as long as the doctor feared you might be.”

“Oh, good,” I say with a relieved sigh. “Where’s the control for the bed? I want to sit up.” Dad hands me the remote, and I hold down the incline button. The bed
whirrs
as it adjusts to the new position. “So when you say tomorrow, you mean…”

“Sunday,” Logan says, kissing my forehead. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Thanks for taking care of my daughter, Logan,” Dad says, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Drive safely and call when you get home.”

“You’re welcome,” Logan says. “It’s only a fifteen minute drive. I’ll be fine. Thanks.” With a wave, he’s out the door.

“I mean it, Logan, call me,” Dad calls after him.

I settle back against the pillows and turn on the television. Might as well get comfortable until the doctor is ready to spring me. It’s not like I’ll be getting any sleep. Within a few minutes, my eyelids begin to feel heavy. They drift closed a few times, and I snap them back open. Eventually opening them becomes more effort than it’s worth. The last thing I notice before giving in to sleep is the quiet
whirr
of the bed as it returns to a reclined position.

Chapter Seventeen — Faceless Phantom

Chapter Seventeen

Faceless Phantom

Gavin places me on the giant chaise lounge at one end of the sofa in our home theater room. After wrapping a leopard print blanket over my legs, he kisses the top of my head. Warmth spreads through my chest. My brother hasn’t been this affectionate in a long time.

Dad enters the room carrying several bags full of two liter sodas and plastic cups. Taking his time, he sets everything up on the corner bar. The addicting smell of fresh popcorn fills the room, coming from the antique popper on the far wall. Dad and Gavin are really going all out for our guests. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that Dr. Hayes will be here.

“Thanks, Dad,” I say, grinning at my flustered father. “The Circle will really appreciate all the trouble you’re going through.”

“I ordered five pizzas,” Dad says, running his hand through his already disheveled hair. “Will that be enough? Maybe I should order a few more.”

“Wait,” I call out before he can rush from the room. “I’m sure it’ll be plenty. Did you find the DVD player?”

Mr. Kincaid is bringing a DVD he copied from old media footage. Unfortunately, we haven’t watched DVDs since Blu-Ray came out years ago. Leaning over, I grab the three remotes resting on a sofa cushion.

“Not yet,” Dad says with a loud sigh. “Perhaps someone can bring one? I think ours is long gone. Can’t we play DVDs on the Blu-Ray?”

“I don’t know… I never tried to. I’ll text Logan,” I reply.

A flush creeps across my face when I realize I smiled as I said his name. After shooting off a quick text, I fire up the Wii. A few Mario Kart races are just what the doctor ordered. My cell chimes as the game is loading.
On it
♥
Logan
. Hugging the phone to my chest, I take a deep breath to quiet my racing heart. Somehow I resist the urge to squeal. He texted a heart symbol! I want to tell Celia so bad, but it’ll have to wait until later tonight. With a happy sigh, I drop the phone to the sofa cushion just as Gavin reappears.