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

the subject abruptly once again. "Why

you

My magic, I think. I

swirling in my mind. "What do

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 book? How do

remains settled in perpetual annoyance. "I know many things, girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are,

Ava: Not

It makes sense that it-he-would have

kind of on the nose, isn't

inspect every inch of me with a curled

it?" 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 more than their appearance. "Acons, perhaps?"

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 vast expanse of dead forest. The contrast is stark-life and death separated by an

else is out

is Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit

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

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

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

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

a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky. "Perhaps I should just set

and start anew."

doesn't seem to have

unable to keep

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