Tangled

Unshift 285

Unshift 285

285 Ava: Who Are You?

My eyes fly open, and I gasp. Where my hand touches the ground, a faint golden glow spreads outward. It's barely visible, like sunlight filtering through murky water, but it's there.

Heart pounding, I press my palm more firmly against the forest floor. The glow intensifies slightly, spreading further. I can feel it now, a warmth seeping up through my skin, traveling along my arm.

It's the magic from the pond. Somehow, it's not confined to the water. It's here, in the very earth beneath my feet.

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, half disbelief and half triumph. "Well, would you look at that?" Encouraged, I place my other hand on the ground as well. The glow spreads further, creating a small circle of light around me. It's beautiful, a stark contrast to the gloomy forest surrounding

1. me.

I close my eyes, focusing on the sensation. The magic feels... different from what I've experienced before. It's not the raw, primal power of the Moon Goddess, nor is it the structured, disciplined energy I've been trying to work with in my training.

This magic feels wild. Untamed. Like a force of nature that can't be reasoned with. It reminds me of the feeling I get when I'm running through the forest, wind in my hair, heart pounding with the thrill of freedom.

The glow continues to spread, pushing back the darkness of the forest. With each passing moment, I feel stronger, more alive. It's intoxicating.

It isn't under my control; it spreads without my thought or push. I'm little more than a conduit. The dark water slowly changes, from black to navy. Then, slowly, into a glossy blue that reflects

the sun.

And hints of green.

Green, from the leaves sprouting on once-dead branches. From the unfurling trees once again reaching high to the sky.

It's limited to the area surrounding me, but there's life here, where there was once nothing at all.

A comfortable buzz against my wrist catches my attention, and I glance down at the silver bracelet Dr. Blackwell gave me.

hint of lavender

to tap

just enjoying the

pounding. "Who's there?" My eyes dart around the forest,

Ava: Who

Nothing but trees

the air again, dripping with sarcasm. "Why are you acting like I'm some sort of attacker? You're the one who barged in here and woke me

where it's coming from. The voice is... odd. Not quite feminine,

male or female?" The voice sounds annoyed now. "Honestly,

peripheral vision, and I whirl toward the pond. The dark surface ripples, then bulges upward.

the water.

shoulders, torso, legs. Water cascades off its form as

Androgynous. Its skin shimmers with an otherworldly iridescence, like moonlight on water. Hair the color of seafoam falls in waves past its shoulders. Its eyes are the deep blue-green of the ocean, with flecks of gold that seem to dance and shift. It-they?-cocks their head to the side,

trying to process what I'm

was, before it started dying. They gesture at the small patch of greenery surrounding us. "Though I suppose I should

sense of this. A

should be nothing in this world capable of surprising me, yet here I am, sent

voice softer now. "I

been a long time since anyone's been able to do

closer. "What happened here? Why is everything...

shadow passes over their face. The magic is fading. Has been for a

life here withers away."

ask, my

time. Without it, the

human gesture. "Who knows? The ways of magic are mysterious, even to those of

<

Who Are

cocked. "You carry the legacy of witches, but have the mark of a wizard.

point at