Tangled

192

192

192 Ava: Mom's Legacy (V)

The hospital is eerily quiet, our steps echoing through the halls. Visiting hours are long over, and night shift reigns.

Vanessa is unfazed by the creepy quality of the place at a late hour, but I jump when the elevator dings, signalling its arrival in front of

1. us.

"You okay?" she asks, concern knitting her brows.

Selene-who's finally out from beneath my bed, though she refuses to talk about why she avoided me for the rest of the day- leans against my leg in silent comfort. "It's just so quiet. I'm not used to hospitals without people bustling around."

There's a giant machine coming down the hall in our direction, cleaning the floor with whatever algorithm powers its movement.

I always wondered how hospitals kept their floors so clean. I guess everything's automated these days.

Vanessa nudges me onto the elevator, pressing the button for my mom's floor before we've all even made it in.

Four bodyguards flank us. Massive overkill, considering that there isn't much we're expecting to happen on this visit.

Still, Lucas-and Jericho-are taking no chances on my safety.

Marcus, at least, is getting a break, and a new guy seems to be the one to shadow me for the night. He's a little short, but his eyes are black and intense, and I wouldn't want to be found in an alley with him in the dark.

•

10:27

log Ave Mom's Legacy (V)

He smells like death, Selene says. To me, such words are atrocious, like I should avoid the person. To her? She speaks as though she

admires him.

And that's a good thing?

Selene's ears flick toward me, and I can feel her side-eye even without her eyes moving. He is a capable guard. This is a good thing. Right. I guess that's true.

Vanessa murmurs, looking straight forward as

I've been avoiding thinking about my mom, or

habits are really, really hard to

my side, her warmth a small comfort in

is the same as the last, and yet it feels as though we're

her?" I ask, confusion

a strange smile playing on her lips. "They

to ease my apprehension as we enter the room. Two of our guards take up positions outside, whil the other

suffocating.

room is dim, the steady beep of machines filling the silence. Vanessa makes her way to the bed where my

bags hanging beside the bed, her movements

eyes drawn to the frail figure beneath the sheets. The sight of her steals

and yet she looks so much smaller,

not long

wolfsbane is taking its toll," Vanessa murmurs, her voice tinged with

resignation.

But when they land on me, they sharpen, a glare that pins me in place. "You must have come to curse me into the afterlife,"

voice thin and brittle.

hits me like a physical blow, but I

nothing.

her eyes never fades, though. "To gloat?

10:27

317

Mom's

sound is vile, coming out

daughter so much that even the

yet you're

nurse steps in, holding a syringe and an impossibly tiny vial filled with clear liquid. "We're about to give you something for your agitation." "I

not to flinch at the words

gentle nudge against my hand keeps me grounded. Don't let

nurse, whose eyes dart around the room like a cornered animal. She scurries out, leaving an unsettling silence in her wake, broken only by the beeping machines Questions burn on my tongue, but I swallow them back. Now's not the time to satisfy my

the clear liquid into the syringe, Selene's voice whispers through my mind, She'll be quiet

hollow comfort, but, I'll take what I

mother's face, trying to block out the vitriol spilling from

Mom's

loathing. It's hard to

She'd pull me into her lap, tickling me until I was breathles The memory rises unbidden, a bitersweet pang in my