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?

if that somehow makes my memories clearer, I think back. The spirit never gave me their name, but gave up Grimoire's without a second thought. The spirit somehow knew about Grimoire and my connection, and knows a

Could it be...?

mutter, scowling at the sandwich in my hands. I want to go back to that

Ava Soon

:: Ash

demand answers, but my stomach demands more

have to cat

"What is it?"

I hold up a hand, chewing furiously as I think. If the spirit is Grimoire, then that place is-what? I don't know.

lands. They called it a hellhole. Said they were

Curious. Very curious.

think the spirit is the book. I

me to sleep before trying again, despite the anticipation coursing through my veins. I'm sure she's right-it would be better to try after a good

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

onward.

always a few

But first, Lucas.

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

and a quick shower later, I'm

running-but Marcus is, and his presence behind me

"Oh. You again.

into my voice. "Here to visit my

audacity in her head. "Why don't I see if he wants visitors?" she

to snap. 117-hou

raise my hand slightly, a silent signal for him

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

Seeing

so directly. I can almost see the gears turning in her head as she tries to formulate a response that won't

Grey, she says, her tone clipped.

my hands on the counter. "And does this protocol extend

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

walked right in without being questioned. In fact, I don't recall seeing anyone

mix of anger and embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "I-I don't

low and steady. "But you do have to do your job fairly and without discrimination. Unless, of course, there's a specific

probably itching to step in. But I need to handle this on my own. I'm tired of this. Tired of feeling like everyone's looking at

want is to see my mate. To