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

dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again.

you

felt within me. My magic, I think.

"What do

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

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 you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything. I'm just trying to connect with my book. With,

Ava: Not

sense that it-he-would

it's kind of on the nose, isn't

inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head.

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 feels very human. Much more than their appearance.

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

no one else is

little human thing?"

about how Grimoire doesn't like to

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

"You seem to know him

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

above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of

and start anew."

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

that... possible?" I ask, unable to

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