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."

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

abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl?

you

mentally and physically, it takes a while 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

swirling in my mind. "What

But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be

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 not trying to stumble into anything.

Not Yet

It makes sense that

on the nose,

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

with the world. The way they roll their

their gaze sweeping around us. I

one else

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing their

were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about

who came barging in

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

back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like

of magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I

and start anew."

doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life.

that... possible?" I ask, unable to keep the worry

abruptly it