Tangled

Unshift 254

Unshift 254

254 Ava: In the Attic

Just as I'm about to suggest we try something else-anything else, like banging until we find at hidden door-movement catches my eye. A shimmer ripples across the far wall, like heat waves rising from sun- baked asphalt. It swirls and coalesces, taking on the familiar appearance of the portals we used to travel to Dakota Sanctuary,

Relief floods through me, tempered by caution.

Magister Orion asked for a portal, but his directions were vague. There's a hell of a lot of world out there.

Marcus steps forward, his jaw set with determination. "I'll go first," he says, his tone brooking no argument. Before I can protest, he's through the portal, vanishing in a blink.

Vanessa and I exchange a quick glance, an entire conversation passing between us in that split second. Together, we step into the swirling vortex.

The world twists and blurs around us, and for a heart-stopping moment, I feel like I'm falling through an endless void. Then, abruptly, solid ground materializes beneath my feet. I stumble forward, colliding with warm bodies in the darkness.

"Oof!" Vanessa grunts as we all tangle together, a mess of limbs in a space that feels far too

small.

"Sorry," I mutter, trying to extricate myself without elbowing anyone in the face. "Where are we?"

A rustling sound, then a click. Soft light floods the space.

Marcus stands a few feet away, his hand on a dangling pull cord attached to a bare bulb.

any attic I've ever seen. The space is absolutely crammed with... stuff. Artifacts of every description crowd the room, lining shelves,

the rafters.

pose next to weathered leather-bound books. Intricate clockwork devices. tick softly, their gears exposed like mechanical organs. Crystals of

corners, no dust coats the surfaces.

this place?" Vanessa breathes, her eyes wide as she takes in

shake my head, at a loss for words. The air itself seems charged with potential, tingling against my skin. My newly awakened magical senses hum, picking up on some sort of energy present in

13

In

I were you. No telling what some of these things might

fingers itch to explore. We might not

to whisper secrets, promising knowledge and power if only I'd reach out and grasp

myself to focus on our immediate situation. "And more importantly, how to contact Lucas and the others. They need to know what's

damn communication

Vanessa. I'll investigate the area. We

peaceful doesn't mean it is, the healer

anything, but

can hear

go dark.

my throat as I exchange alarmed

We're not alone.

Their bodies form a living shield, and I struggle to quell the surge of

for heroics or misplaced pride. I force myself to stay still, to become as small and quiet as possible in this

my forehead, trickling down my temple. The air feels thick, oppressive. Every creak

radiating from Marcus and Vanessa. Their muscles are coiled tight, ready to spring into action. My body thrums with nervous energy, my