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."

guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus.

again. "Why are here,

you

connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean

swirling in my mind. "What do you

sigh, like I'm an obtuse child they're obligated to handle. "Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you

spirit's expression 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

Ava: Not Yet

sense that it-he-would have

kind of on the nose,

Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled

world. The way they roll their eyes and

can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit,

one else

human thing?" the spirit

aback, I protest, "I thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed and enjoys his peace and quiet. Wouldn't

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

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

in mid-air. It's surreal, watching

a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set the

and start anew."

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

ask, unable to keep the worry from

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