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."

trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like

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

you

a while to gather the words. "I 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, world: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their

in my mind. "What do you mean? I've

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

quiet. Yet here you

Ava: Not Yet

sense that it-he-would have a

it's kind of on the nose,

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 timing of their

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,

one else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing their

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

came barging in

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

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

doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green

and start anew."

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

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

movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me