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."

guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've

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

you

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: The spirit

frown, confusion swirling in my mind. "What do you mean?

sigh, like I'm an obtuse child they're obligated 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 do

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 not trying to stumble

Not

makes sense that it-he-would

kind of on the nose, isn't

you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has

it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and

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 circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and

else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?"

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

one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

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

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

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."

This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my

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

of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an