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."

head, trying to refocus. "I'm sorry. I've never seen

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

you

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

frown, confusion swirling in my mind. "What do

expected. Grimoire doesn't like to be disturbed, you know," Energy fizzes

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

Ava: Not

makes sense that it-he-would have

it's kind of on the

inspect every inch of me with a curled lip and a slow shake of their head. "Has the world changed so

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.

curiosity. "How can I reach Grimoire?" The spirit blinks, their gaze sweeping around

one else is out

little human thing?" the spirit asks, crossing

on and on about

in here.

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

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

future of magic is doomed," they announce to the canopy above, which has parted into a frame of green trees surrounding a sliver of blue sky.

and start anew."

to have any real

unable to keep the worry from

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