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 anything like

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

you

connection I felt within me. My magic, I think. I didn't mean to intrude on your, er, world: The

confusion swirling in my mind. "What do you mean? I've never

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 do you

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

Ava: Not Yet

makes sense that it-he-would

of on the nose,

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

you were out in it?" I venture to ask. The spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and

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, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a

no one else

human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

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

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

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

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

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 for

unable to keep the worry from my

sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity