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 never seen anything

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

you

to gather 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: The spirit clicks their tongue, annoyance flashing across their ethereal features.

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

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 and shallow. "Grimoire? You mean my magic

spirit's expression remains settled in 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

Ava: Not

that it-he-would

of on the nose,

you manage a contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the world changed

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.

gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle of vibrant green, there's nothing but a vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and death separated by

else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit

and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be

one who came barging in here.

counter. "You seem to know him

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

has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding

and start anew."

runs 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

I ask, unable to keep the

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