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."

shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen

changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here,

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 quite a habit

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

"Not here, specifically. But you have a penchant for barging in where you're not expected. Grimoire doesn't like

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

Not

sense that it-he-would have

it's kind of on the

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

I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the

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

no one else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?"

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

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

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

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

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

and start anew."

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 a

unable to keep the worry

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