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

the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here,

you

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

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

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 know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid

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 connect with my

Not

that it-he-would have a name,

it's kind of on the

inspect every inch of me with a

you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than their appearance. "Acons, perhaps?" They shrug. "Time is

seem interested in a two-way conversation, only in satiating their own curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond

one else is

thing?"

thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be

came barging in here. Shouldn't you

anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well.

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

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

and start anew."

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

ask, unable to keep the worry from my

it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into