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

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

you

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 habit of coming

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

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

girl. Including the fact that Grimoire prefers his peace and quiet. Yet here you

Not

makes sense that it-he-would have a

on the nose, isn't

Grimoire? They inspect every inch of me with

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.

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

one else

thing?" the spirit asks,

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

in

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

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

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

and start anew."

doesn't seem to have any real empathy for

to keep the

spirit's reaction is like something out of a horror movie. They sit up so abruptly it makes me flinch, their eyes burning into mine with an intensity that roots