Tangled

Unshift 287

Unshift 287

287 Ava: Seeing Lucas Again

"Ava?"

İ

Lisa shakes me awake, but it takes a few blinks for my eyes to adjust to reality.

"What is it?" My throat is croaky, and I clear it with a few dry coughs.

*Kellan brought dinner. You've been sitting like that for a few hours. I wasn't sure if I should bother you or not.

My muscles protest as I push myself to my feet, my entire body stiff after hours of stillness. Every joint in my body seems to creak and pop, like I'm twenty years older than I am. Or maybe It's just the weight of everything bearing down on me. "Thanks." I mumble as Lisa hands me a plate with a simple turkey sandwich. The sight of food makes my stomach growl, and I realize I'm ravenous.

I take a bite, savoring the simple flavors. It's nothing fancy, but right now it tastes like the best thing I've ever eaten. Lisa watches me, concern etched on her face.

"Did you make any progress?" she asks hesitantly, after depositing the wardstone between us for security. It's only a ten-foot radius; better to keep it close.

I grimace, swallowing hard. "I'm not sure if what I did was considered

Lisa's eyebrows furrow. "What do you mean?"

progress.

I take another bite, chewing slowly as I try to gather my thoughts. How do I even explain what happened? The eerie forest, the mysterious pond, the spirit... it all seems so surreal now that I'm back in the real world.

There's a place I go sometimes. It's like some sort of magical realm, but it feels kind of like a dream. This time, there was a dead forest and a dark pond. And a spirit."

Lisa tilts her head. "A spirit? Like a ghost, or...?"

I shake my head. "No, not like that. More like... a guardian, I guess? Of the magic in that place. But I still don't know where that place was, or why I was there."

Resting her chin in her hand, she watches me eat. "Well, where were you trying to go?"

"To the book. Well, I wasn't trying to go anywhere, but I wanted to connect with the book."

"So doesn't it stand to reason that it has something to do with the book? That place, and the spirit?

gave up Grimoire's without a second thought. The spirit somehow knew about Grimoire and my connection, and knows a lot about the book-and

Could it be...?

bitch, I mutter, scowling at the sandwich in my hands. I

Soon

:: Ash

but my stomach demands more

just have to

"What is it?"

that place is-what? I don't know. Either Grimoire's place in that magical realm, or maybe the bond between us? There

called it a hellhole. Said they

Curious. Very curious.

I tell Lisa, "I think the spirit is the book. I just missed it

veins. I'm sure she's right-it would be better

of urgency, like I'm lagging behind as things inexorably

onward.

a few

But first, Lucas.

side to side, wondering if he'll be happy to see me. Or if he'll

of boiled eggs and toast, and a quick shower

sniffing around Lisa this morning before disappearing for whatever he has to do to keep the pack running-but Marcus is, and his presence behind me makes it a little easier to meet the disdain in the receptionist's eyes as she looks me

"Oh. You again.

maximum cheer into my voice. "Here to visit my

impassive at my words. I'm sure she's cursing my audacity in her head. "Why don't I see if

to snap. 117-hou

tensing behind me, his energy coiling like a spring ready turning, I raise my hand slightly, a silent signal for him to stand down. This

dose of false sweetness into my voice. "Do you do this for every patient under

Seeing Lucas

head as she tries to formulate a response that won't get her in

following protocol, Miss Grey, she says, her

see." I lean forward, placing my hands on the counter.

then back to me. "All visitors," she insists, but I can hear the lie

I couldn't help but notice yesterday that several other visitors walked right in without being questioned.

embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I don't have to

to do your job fairly and without discrimination. Unless, of course, there's a specific reason you're treating me

shifting behind me, probably itching to step in. But I need to handle this on my own. I'm tired of this. Tired of

want is to see