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

abruptly once again.

you

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

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

expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid

annoyance. "I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into

Ava: Not Yet

It makes sense that

it's kind of on the nose,

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

long has it been since you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they

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 dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and death

one else is out

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit

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 him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find

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

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

and start anew."

runs down my spine. This 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

unable to keep the worry from

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