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.

wave a dismissive hand, changing the subject abruptly once again. "Why are here, girl?

you

"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

frown, confusion swirling in my mind. "What

sigh, like I'm an 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

fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you are, once again, stumbling into

Not

sense that it-he-would have a name,

kind of on the nose,

inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has

spirit must have some experience with the world. The way they roll their eyes and the timing of their humor feels very human.

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.

no one else is out

Grimoire, little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

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

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

him," I counter. "You seem to know him quite well. I figured you'd know where to find

It's surreal, watching them float there like they're

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

possible?" I ask, unable to keep

horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an