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."

catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything

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

you

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 think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The spirit clicks their

mind. "What do you

where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like

remains settled in perpetual annoyance. "I know many 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

Not

It makes sense that it-he-would

it's kind of on the nose,

They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake

The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll

conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow

one else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?"

about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed

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

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

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

above, which has parted into a frame of green trees

and start anew."

my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any

unable to keep the worry

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