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 like

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

you

I felt within me. 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. "You make quite a habit

"What do

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

"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

Ava: Not

sense that it-he-would have a name,

of on

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

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

can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us.

one else is out

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

were going to 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 know

eyes narrow. "You're the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know

know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to

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

doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to

horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots me to the