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."

sarcasm catches me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus.

changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why

you

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 quite a habit

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

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

prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm

Ava: Not

that it-he-would have

it's kind of on the

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

spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels

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,

else is

little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

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

barging in here. Shouldn't

counter. "You seem to know him quite

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

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

and start anew."

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

to keep the

of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine