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

abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl? This isn't a place

you

was trying to focus on a new connection I 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 their ethereal features. "You make

confusion swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've

have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't

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

Ava: Not Yet

It makes sense that it-he-would have

on the nose,

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

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?"

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

no one else is out

thing?"

you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about

came barging in here. Shouldn't you know where your

to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where

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

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

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 worry

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