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."

and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've

changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place for casual

you

to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world:

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

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 mean my magic book? How do you

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 Yet

that it-he-would have

on the nose, isn't

with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head.

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

have a feeling further questioning will only lead me nowhere. They don't 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

no one else is out

little human thing?" the spirit asks,

all, they went on and on about

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

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

spirit groans, dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying

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

and start anew."

its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy for my life. I'm

unable to keep the

sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their