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

thinking about my mom, or her wolf. Avoidance has always

habits are

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

the last, and yet it

did they move her?" I ask, confusion lacing

her lips. "They had to make some

we enter the room. Two of our guards take up positions outside, whil the other two follow us

suffocating.

the steady beep of machines filling the silence. Vanessa makes her way to the bed where

IV bags hanging beside the bed, her

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

she looks so much

long

her voice tinged

resignation.

sensing our presence, my mother's eyes flutter open. They're dull, lacking the fire I've always associated with her. But when they land on me, they sharpen, a glare that pins me in place. "You must

voice thin and brittle.

hits me like a physical blow,

nothing.

vitriol in her eyes never fades, though. "To gloat? To see me wither away?" "I'm not here for you."My

10:27

317

Ava: Mom's

sound is vile,

daughter so much that even the sound

you're

syringe and an impossibly tiny vial filled with clear liquid. "We're about to give you something for your agitation." "I wouldn't be agitated if you would remove that filth

at the words

gentle nudge against my hand keeps me grounded. Don't let her bait you,

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

liquid into the syringe, Selene's voice whispers through

comfort, but, I'll take what I can

vitriol spilling from her lips. Her features, once soft and warm, are

Ava: Mom's Legacy

loathing. It's

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