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 sorry. I've

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

you

physically, it takes a while to gather the words. "I was... I was trying to focus on a new connection I felt within me. My magic, I think.

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

expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes through my veins, my heart beat rapid

Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into places you don't belong "I'm not

Ava: Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have a name,

kind of on the nose, isn't

me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the world

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

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

else is

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit

thought you were going to tell me. After all, they went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed

in here. Shouldn't you know

don't know anything about him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find

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

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

and start anew."

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

I ask, unable to

reaction is like something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots