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."

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

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

you

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

"What do you mean? I've never been

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.

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

Not Yet

that it-he-would have a name,

of on

inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has

with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very

reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of

one else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit

on about how Grimoire doesn't

who came barging in here. Shouldn't you

seem to know

flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them

has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I

and start anew."

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

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

so abruptly it makes