Dancing with the devil

Practice makes perfect

Me and Lesso have spent a lot of time together getting me to work on my powers, We have got along quite well, Dovey has been planning the ball which sounds like it will be pretty perfect for being planned by an ever. The theme will be doves and ravens, the good and bad essentially. 

We are in the doom room again, still throwing fireballs around the room and blocking Lesso's attacks. ''You have improved a lot since the last time, well done'' Lesso smiled as she pushed me with her cane into the chair behind me. ''You look drained, rest for a moment then be prepared, Rafal doesn't give people rests, he will try everything in his power to knock you down and kill you. We need you around Ignes, your school needs a headmistress.'' I just nod as I get back out of the chair, if rafal won't rest neither will I. ''Try me'' I say approaching Lesso with a mischievous smile. ''Try you? hmm the best attacks are unexpected my dear, when you think it is over it has only just begun'' She began as she circled me, looking at me before calling it a day on training. As I turned around to leave Lesso attacked, casting a spell which slammed me into the wall, hitting my spine. ''Jesus christ Lesso, can you give me a small warning before you hit my back.'' ''No warnings, just be prepared. Now we are finished.'' She shoos me away with her hand and I leave. 

I had spoken to Dovey about how I could practice more, how I could suprise Lesso by being ready at all times and she had suggested I go into the blue forest. It sounded intriguing so after a long day and my students were resting in preparation for their new lessons that began tomorrow, I slipped out of Lesso's room and made my way to the blue forest. My outfit meant I could quickly access my dagger incase of emergency. 

I reached the bridge between the schools and looked around, hoping no one would see where I was going at this time of night. Little did I know I had woken Lesso up by leaving the door. 

I walked towards the forest, the moonlight leading the way to the gates of the forest. It looked like any other regular forest, I took a deep breath and entered the gates. The first thing I came across was a beautiful rose garden, I was about half way through the garden when I begun to hear hissing, as if the garden was angry at my arrival, I kept on moving until I felt the flowers turn and look at me, one more step and one of the roses opened up. It had teeth. ''Hell no!'' I whispered to myself as the rose begun to bite at me, its teeth sharper than any blade as it scratched my pale flesh. I took out my dagger and begun defending myself. I cut a few roses down and finally made my way out of the garden to be greeted with a lovely array of cuts across my body. ''I never liked roses anyway, now I have a reason'' I whispered as I made my way to the next place. 

A pumpkin patch was the last place I thought I'd find myself. Cute little orange and yellow pumpkins were in neat little rows, almost too neat. I walked on a little more until I came across a scarecrow. ''Ooh spooky I love it'' I say as I walk past the scarecrow, looking at its lack of face. ''Not too scary though... shame'' I say as I continue to walk past it. Just as I had my back turned I heard wood creaking along with the sound of ripping. I turn to see that the scarecrow had come to life. It had something in his hand, something I was too familiar with. My uncle Thanatos (the grim reaper) used one to collect his souls, a scythe. ''Nice touch...'' I say with a smirk. The pumpkin grew an internal flame as it bared its face to me, instinctively I began to run from it, if I could buy myself some time I can come up with a plan. 

*Lessos POV*

I followed Ignes into the forest, thankfully I was a few minutes behind her so she wouldn't have heard my heels hitting the stone. I watched her get through the rose bush and the enchanted forest before watching her go on to the final part, the pumpkin patch, I saw as she began to run, not realising how fast the scarecrow really was. She was dodging  his attacks very well, pushing him back with magic I didn't know she posessed. The fight was intense, it was Ignes and her daggers against the scarecrow and his scythe. A magnificent battle from both parties, she ran a little longer until she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes began turning yellow, she wasn't running anymore. She turned around to face the scarecrow who had just swung for her, cutting part of her shirt, hopefully not harming the girl. They began to dance with their weapons, the blades reflecting the moonlight that appeared from behind the trees. She was pushing the scarecrow further back with her weapon and skill but as she was fighting, she stepped back and lost her footing causing her to fall and her head made a thud as it connected with a tree stump.

I watched as she stayed down on the floor not moving, I wanted to run up right then and have her from deaths grip but it seemed she had done it herself. I was astonished when I saw Ignes' body glow orange and red, she opened her eyes and her eyes were red, not even just a light glow, they were fully red with black pupils, she got up and without speaking stood there just staring at the scarecrow which hels it's scythe above its head ready to bring it town on her oce more. She let out a glass shattering scream, as if all her anger and pain was put into her body all at once, the scarecrow swung the weapon down, she had the weapon held above her, the tip of the sharp metal just inches away from her head. ''I wouldn't'' It was ignes but her voice was different, a low growl instead of her usual tone. Dare I say it turned me on a bit? 

It swung again but this time black smoke appeared around them, the glow grew stronger until I heard the scream again, I saw sparks and flames errupting from the smoke, curses that only the most devious nevers could know. That is when I saw the pumpkin head go flying and breaking onto the soil, Ignes had defeated it! 

 When the smoke faded, the light stopped and I saw Ignes on the ground, the scythe was in her chest. For a moment she didn't move until her eyes fluttered open and she stood up. She staggered for a moment before ripping the object from her chest with yet another scream.  ''You owe me a new shirt'' She said as she looked down on the defeated pumpkin head that had now exploded onto the ground. ''I did it... I DID IT!!'' She screamed, I was so proud of her, I thought I should make myself known, tell her how proud of her I am. I began to step towards her before I was stopped. Her face had paled to a near ghostly white, her shirt was stained with deep red liquid and her body let out a low groan before she clutched her chest and fell to the ground with a loud thud. ''Shit'' I said under my breath and I sprinted towards the woman. She was still breathing. But how? the scythe went through her chest!

No time to think I had to get her to the infirmary! I scooped her up, she was still somewhat conscious when I grabbed her and I began to run back to the school for evil. ''You did great Ignes, you are ready. Training complete.'' I say to no response. ''Ignes?'' I look down at the woman who was now limp in my arms. ''Crap'' ...