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

again. "Why are here, girl? This

you

connection 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

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

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 you know about

girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you

Not Yet

makes sense that it-he-would have a

kind of on

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

ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the

feeling further questioning will only lead me nowhere. They 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

else is

thing?"

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

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

I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured

spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there

the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set

and start anew."

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

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

They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their