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."

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

dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here,

you

was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er,

in my mind. "What do you mean?

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

peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything.

Not

that it-he-would have a name,

on

someone like you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the world changed

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

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

one else is

thing?"

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

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

know anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know

mid-air. It's surreal,

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

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

to keep the worry from my

something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it