Training
1008 Words
Marisol was a natural with a battle axe. She sparred with Brianna who was getting just as good with her staff. What looked like normal wood didn’t break or even show damage to being hit with the axe. And while Brianna was stronger, Marisol was a quick learner.
Ducking the staff being swung at her face, Marisol dropped on her haunches, rolled, and swung her blade at Brianna’s middle. But Brianna gracefully pushed off the ground and jumped behind Marisol. Before Marisol could react she felt two small pokes to the back of her neck.
Breathing out frustrated, Marisol pouted at Brianna. But her fearless leader hugged her around the neck, “Trust me, you’re doing much better than I did when I first started. Way to rock it kid.” Marisol nudged her sweetly, “Only because I have you helping me out. I’d be somewhere in a corner chewing my hair if it wasn’t for you.”
Brianna laughed loudly and then started coaching Marisol on technique and maneuvers. But in the middle of training, Tamia came out and warily called out to the two witches by the water, “Brianna, we need to discuss the demons in Time Square!” Nodding Brianna panted out, “Right behind you!”
Not needing another word, Tamia turned and left looking forlorn. Marisol breathed out worriedly, “She’s been like that for days. Are you sure she’s okay?” Brianna wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t lie. “I don’t know.”
Because for once, she didn’t. She felt like she had a lot on her plate and she was overwhelmed. And now her little sister was skulking around like someone had sucked all her happiness from her. Three nights, Brianna has had to rush to her as nightmares plagued her once happy dreams.
She was worried, and Tamia wasn’t talking to her like before.
And Brianna wouldn’t tolerate it for much longer. “I’ll get on it, I can’t have her living like this. And she’s surrounded by people who love her. I just need to remind her of that.”
Wiping off her sweat and grabbing her stuff, Brianna left Marisol with words of praise before leaving. Marisol decided to give a rest and take a walk before going back to Aurora. She now felt comfortable with Jeremy watching and entertaining her as she trained.
Especially when he did a blood oath to never harm a hair on her head. It was moving to be honest he’d go to such lengths to prove he was on her side. And that her daughter was safe in his presence.
Leaves crunching underfoot, Marisol played with the strings to her hoodie. When she got to a clearing on to the opposite end of the cathedral, she felt it. An evil presence left her blood pricking like ice as her breathing steadied.
Jumping back antire foot, Marisol held her sword at the ready. And the demon behind her laughed amused, “Oh so you noticed me huh? Good job, for such a green witch.” Immediately, Marisol deduced that this was a demon, and from his energy. A pretty powerful one.
Popping his back, he glanced around cockily, as he asked, "Where are the other little witches?" Marisol smirked as she asked playfully, "What I'm not enough for you now?" The Demon cackled nastily, his fire red skin a dark contrast to the winter land around him. “Of course darling. But all types of demons have been trying to get into these wards for weeks. I’m surprised I found an opening today or I would have called backup.”
Pinning Marisol to the forest floor with his coal-black eyes, he sneered, “But since I only have to deal with you, some baby witch not even flying her own broom yet, I think I’m safe.” Growing in size, Marisol watched muscles ripple as his talons became a foot long, “Be lucky little girl,” the demon rasped disgustingly, “you are about to be killed by the finest demon race. Valec Arms of Sombra-.”
And then his head rolled across the ground.
If there was an instant replay, and things could be slowed, the demon would have seen where he went wrong. The moment Sombra came out of his mouth, Marisol thought of Gabriel Ramirez. And how much she hated that son of a b***h.
It jumped from her body, her reaction.
She moved her feet without even realizing it and then her sword was going clean through. The demon’s black blood soaked the clean snow as Marisol flicked his blood off her sword. As the demon disintegrated into nothing, Jeremy appeared silently, “Good job.”
Turning to face him, she wondered, “Was this a test?” Jeremy grinned, “Indeed it was. And you passed with an A++, proud of you Marisol.” c*****g an eyebrow, Marisol asked, “And if I hadn’t passed?” Jeremy grinned holding up his silver sword, “Then we would have kept training you. But I knew you’d pass. It’s always best to use anger and pain as a drive. Not to cloud your judgment, but to fuel your actions. You need proper motivation to stay alive Marisol.”
Looking back at the cathedral with a little smile, Jeremy reminded her, “And you have all the motivation you need throwing blended peas at Tamia right now.” Grinning, Marisol nudged Jeremy, “Thanks Jere-bear.” Jeremy laughed a little, patting her head, “You can thank me by going on a demon hunt with us tonight. You could use all the practice going up against them.”
Marisol agreed as they headed back to get dressed for her first night out.
- Writer
