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."

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

the subject abruptly once again. "Why are

you

the words. "I was... I 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:

swirling in my mind. "What

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

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

Ava: Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have a

on the nose,

with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled

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

blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green,

else

thing?" the spirit

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

one who came barging in

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

back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching them float there like they're lying on

has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky.

and start anew."

chill runs down my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have any real empathy

to

so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning