The Chronicles of Winterset: Oracle by K.G. Reuss Read Free Book Online

Sasha in tow.
    “When the hell did that happen? He’s been here two days,” Mel whispered to me. I shrugged, not really caring.
    “Hey, Ana!” Jared called out, catching everyone’s attention. I looked up wearily, not eager to speak to him.
    He rushed around the side of the table, sat down beside me, and took my sweaty hand in his. “I heard you’ve never kissed anyone before. I wanted you to know I’m here to remedy that and more,” he proclaimed dramatically.
    I pulled my hand away in disgust as everyone laughed.
    “Come on, Ana! Don’t play hard to get!” he continued, leaning into me. “You need to loosen up a little! I can help with that too!”
    I gripped my fork, ready to put it through his eye if he kept harassing me.
    He grabbed me abruptly and bent me down so fast I didn’t have time to register what was happening. His lips were a hair’s breadth from my own and I struggled against him as he held my arms. People jeered and whooped their approval all around us. I felt the tingling in my hands again and let out a small moan as it went from tickling to a harsh burning pain.
    “Knock it off!” Kellin was on his feet in an instant. I opened my eyes long enough to see Calix watching the scene unfold with sharp, narrowed eyes that were boring into my own.
    Kellin grabbed Jared and pushed him away from me.
    “Come on, Kel! I was only teasing,” Jared reasoned. “Besides, she needs it, and since you haven’t done it—”
    Jared was immediately silenced by Kellin shoving him hard in the chest, sending him flying over a garbage can.
    Then Calix was on his feet, staring down at me with a curious expression on his face. It looked like he was torn between wanting to help me and wanting to finish my social demise.
    “Are you OK?” Mel asked, concerned as she reached for me.
    I shook my head, tears burning my eyes, and got to my feet, not bothering to grab my tray. I rushed away from the commons without looking back even though Mel was calling my name.

Chapter 8
     
    My hands continued to burn, and I cried out in a bathroom stall as they ached. I was so angry, I wasn’t sure if the pain was from clenching my fists tightly or something else.
    I didn’t have to wait long to find out.
    The pain increased the more I thought about my embarrassment, and I shrieked in agony as tiny little red and blue flames danced from my fingertips. I scurried out of the stall and practically fell over trying to get to the sink to extinguish the fire.
    The water poured cold and harsh onto my hands, and I blubbered like a baby as I stared at my blistered skin. I was in shock. I was hallucinating. I had a brain tumor.
    So many things spiraled through my head, trying to explain away what had just happened, but none of them did it. Something was happening to me, and I was terrified.
    Hugging my tender hands to my chest, I whimpered, and when the bell rang, I didn’t bother leaving the bathroom, grateful when no one came in. I sat in the stall clutching my hands, wanting them to not hurt anymore. Wanting the fever to go away. Wanting whatever was happening to me to stop.
    I fell asleep with my head against the wall of the stall and was jolted awake later by the bathroom door slamming shut.
    “Can you believe he jumped up and pushed Jared like that? All for her?” Courtney’s angry voice cut through the silence.
    “I know! And what was up with Calix? He acted like he was going to help her! He doesn’t even know her. At least Kellin has been around awhile,” Sasha piped up.
    “She’s pathetic. She pretends to be so shy and timid, but I know exactly what she is. She better watch herself around Kellin. He’s mine,” Courtney said evenly, her voice filled with poison. I bit back tears, wishing I could tell them that both of the guys were safe from me. There was no way they’d want an uptight circus freak anyway.
    They left the bathroom soon afterward, and I looked down at my hands. They were completely healed, with not a