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."

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

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

you

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

swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've never been

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

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

Not Yet

sense that

on the nose, isn't

you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow

the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than

The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then

else

human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like

in here.

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

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

future of magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue

and start anew."

to have any real empathy

to keep the worry

a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it