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."

and I shake my head, trying to refocus.

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

you

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

in my mind. "What do you

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

prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you

Not

sense that

it's kind of on

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

it been since 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

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.

else is out

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

tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys his peace and quiet. Wouldn't they

who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your own book

to know him quite

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

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

and start anew."

to have any real empathy for my life. I'm

ask, unable to keep the worry

it makes