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."

me off guard, and I shake my head, trying to refocus. "I'm

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

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. 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

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

"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 book? How

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

Ava: Not

that it-he-would have a name,

on the

contract with Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with

the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human. Much more than their appearance.

reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around us. I hesitate, then follow suit, scanning our surroundings. Beyond our small circle

else

human thing?"

went on and on about how Grimoire doesn't like to be

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

seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find

dramatically falling flat on their back in mid-air. It's surreal, watching

a frame of green

and start anew."

down my spine. This spirit, for all its human-like mannerisms, doesn't seem to have

ask, unable to

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