Tangled

Unshift 286

Unshift 286

286 Ava: Not Yet Ready.

*Sealed? By the water, you mean?"

"Of course not." They look irritated now, likely by how slow my brain is catching up to their thought process. The seals, girl"

"So, a lockbox?"

"Lockb-you humans have such odd innovations." The way they're peering into my face, it feels like they're tearing apart my memories to educate themselves.

"In a sense, I suppose. It isn't that easy" They sit.

In the air.

Floating.

Just-there. As if one would lower themself into a chair, only there's nothing there.

"Why so surprised?" they ask, tilting their head as they blink owlishly in my direction.

Gesturing toward them, I just say, "You're floating. In mid-air."

They roll their eyes again, a surprisingly human gesture for such an otherworldly being. "And you're standing on the ground. How extraordinary."

catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen

wave a dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place

you

to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across

my mind. "What do you mean? I've never been here

to handle. "Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean my magic book? How

annoyance. "I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you

Ava: Not Yet

makes sense that it-he-would

kind of on

Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake

spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their

lead me nowhere. They don't seem interested in a two-way conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small

else is out

thing?" the spirit

about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys his peace and quiet.

"You're the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your own book

seem to know him quite

back in mid-air. It's

is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of

and start anew."

for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any

ask, unable to

it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an