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.

subject abruptly once again. "Why are

you

My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features.

confusion swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've

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 do

expression remains settled in perpetual 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 don't belong "I'm

Ava: Not Yet

sense that it-he-would have a

of on the nose, isn't

like you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a

The way they roll their eyes and the timing

will only 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

no one else is

little human thing?" the spirit

aback, I protest, "I thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't

barging in here. Shouldn't you know

about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find him,

their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying on an

parted into a frame of green trees

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to keep the worry from my

out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes