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

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

you

new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world:

my mind. "What do you mean? I've never been here

barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat

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.

Ava: Not Yet

that it-he-would have a

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

way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than their appearance. "Acons, perhaps?" They shrug. "Time

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

one else is out

human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

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

barging in here. Shouldn't you know where

know anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I

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

into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to

of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning