Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 445: Lisa: What Happened?

LISA

Everyone's acting strangely, but I can't blame them—my mind's busy whirling with how I got outside without any memory of it. It's clear I've lost a decent chunk of time, because last I remember, Lucas wasn't back yet.

"Take a shower," Ava suggests, worry etched in the lines of her forehead. Her light blue eyes seem darker than usual, and it's clear she isn't telling me something.

My fingers catch in my tangled hair. The strands are stiff with cold, and my scalp protests the rough treatment. My toes feel like blocks of ice in my shoes, so a hot shower sounds perfect right now.

But Kellan won't look at me. His jaw is tight, his shoulders stiff, and his eyes fix on some point over my head. My stomach twists. What did I do? What happened in that blank space of time I can't remember?

Lucas and Ava hover nearby, and the awkwardness thickens with each passing second. Ava's face does that thing it does when she's having a conversation with someone else—probably Selene or her magical book friend. No one's leaving, despite the suggestion to shower, and I wonder where Selene went. She was with us until we got home.

Ava's eyes dart between me and Lucas, and understanding dawns on her face. "Lucas, go back. We'll wait for Vanessa."

There's someone else coming? "Um, why is Vanessa…?"

"We need to check for frostbite." Kellan's voice is rough, sounding almost… irritated, maybe. He still won't look at me.

A nervous laugh bubbles up. "I don't have frostbite. My toes are just cold."

Silence. Heavy, oppressive silence. Kellan's jaw works, but no words come out.

Fine. Whatever. I turn toward the bathroom, my movements stiff and awkward. Questions swirl in my head—what happened out there? Why won't anyone tell me straight out? Why are they all acting like I might break?

shut behind me, and I lean against it with a sigh, only to jump when Ava knocks on

she holds out, but before Ava can slip away, I

of worry on her face melt into something softer, sadder. Without a word, she steps inside and closes the door behind her.

"Ave?"

I'm working on figuring it out. I've been talking

not sure I want to know what's wrong with me. Is there a strange magical parasite in my head? Have I lost half my

Grimoire worried?" The

her hands firm on my shoulders. "I said don't worry. We're

a different story. There's fear there,

knots.

now, okay? Vanessa's

"Ava, please. I lost time.

and that hesitation speaks volumes. "Grimoire thinks it has to do with the vampire

one tiny microsecond, I have some relief that there's no brain-eating amoeba or life-sucking magitech tendencies to worry about. But my knees go weak, and Ava squeaks as she catches me from falling

Not even a tiny bit of okay. But I nod mechanically. "Yeah,

shoves her face into mine, her blue eyes sharp as she stares me down. Then she sighs. "I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid telling you so your shower would be more relaxing, but I think that

it." Rubbing my face, I back away, my legs once again secure beneath me. "It's fine. I'll be okay. I'll just shower and… we'll

what out? Not sure. My

When did I drop the clothes? My fingers feel numb and empty, and I can't remember

with careful movements. Her hands shake, just a

Her voice breaks on the last word. She wraps her arms around me again, and this time the embrace is different. Desperate. Like she's trying to shield me from something neither of us can see. "I won't let it happen again. I swear, Lisa. No matter

burn, and I blink rapidly to keep the tears from falling. A lump forms in my