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."

head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like

once again. "Why are

you

to gather the words. "I was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world:

in my mind. "What do you

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.

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

Not Yet

sense that it-he-would have

kind of on the nose,

contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a

you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much

Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings.

else

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks,

going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like

in here. Shouldn't you know where your

know him quite well. I

spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float

has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set the

and start anew."

spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm sure it's even

possible?" I ask, unable to keep the worry from my

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