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."

shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen anything like

again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't

you

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

confusion swirling in my mind. "What

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 know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid and shallow. "Grimoire? You

quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not trying to stumble into anything.

Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have a

on the nose, isn't

contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the world

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

"How can 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, there's nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life

no one else

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks,

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

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

about him," I counter. "You seem to know

mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float

they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set

and start anew."

chill runs down my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm sure it's even worse for

unable to keep the

so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots