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."

my head, trying to refocus.

changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This

you

and physically, it takes a while to gather the words. "I was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I

in my mind. "What do

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

Yet here you are, once

Not Yet

sense that it-he-would

it's kind of on the

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

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. "Acons, perhaps?" They shrug. "Time

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 of

else is out

thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys his

"You're the one who came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your own book

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

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

frame of green trees surrounding a sliver

and start anew."

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

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

it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine