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.

straight forward as the elevator numbers change from floor to

been avoiding thinking about my mom, or her wolf. Avoidance has

are really, really hard

room feels longer than it should, each step heavy with dread. Selene presses close to my side, her warmth a

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

I ask,

her lips. "They had

does little to ease my apprehension as we enter the room. Two of our guards take up positions outside, whil the other two follow us in their presence both reassuring

suffocating.

filling the silence. Vanessa makes her

hanging beside the bed, her movements practiced

eyes drawn to the frail figure beneath the sheets. The sight of her steals my breath. It's only

and yet she looks so much smaller, her cheeks hollow and skin

not long for

toll," Vanessa murmurs, her voice tinged with something I

resignation.

her. But when they land on me,

voice thin and brittle.

a physical

nothing.

effort, before finally giving up. The vitriol in her eyes never fades, though. "To gloat? To see me

10:27

317

Ava: Mom's

vile, coming out of

despise their daughter so much that even the sound of her cough is filled

you're

with clear liquid. "We're about to give you something for your agitation." "I wouldn't be agitated if you would remove that filth

as I'm trying not to flinch at the words she throws my way,

my hand keeps me grounded. Don't let her bait you, she whispers

unsettling silence in her wake, broken only by the beeping

the clear liquid into the syringe, Selene's

comfort, but, I'll take

mother's face, trying to block out the vitriol spilling from her lips. Her features, once soft and

Ava: Mom's

with loathing. It's

light up a room, and her laughter was infectious. She'd pull me into her lap, tickling me until I was breathles