The Last Unicorn Warrior

XI

Months have passed, and my endurance and strength have grown. I am capable of outrunning Hades now. He has become tougher on me to ensure I am ready. He says when he thinks I'm ready, he will bring in someone else. I don't know who yet. He somewhat gave me a day off after Hazel kept telling him he's working me out.

That leads us to right now. Hazel is sitting on the outside steps of the house while I sit on a step lower than hers. "I've noticed you've become less shy." She says as she plays with my hair.

I scrunch up my face. "How?" I ask her. I turn to look at her. Her sharp eyes are observant.

"When we go out in the town, you are not shy anymore. You still hide your face for obvious reasons, but other than that, I've seen you break out of your shell." She pats my hand. "You've become more warrior-like." Her smile makes me smile.

"You think so?" I question blushing.

"I know so." She gets up and dusts off her loose brown dress. The halter neckline makes her look taller while the slits in her skirt give her a playful aura. She whistles beckoning Harper. Ulla immediately stands by my side as Harper swoops close to Hazel. She whispers sweet nothings to Harper as she walks into the cottage. I pat Ulla's mane admiring her beauty. I know Hades gave me a day off, but I have no idea about what to do. My muscles want me to go out and fight. Deciding on practicing, I sneak into my room and change out of my dress. Untying the satin belt, I slip out of it and into the workout clothing.

"Ursula, you should relax your tense muscles," Ulla says, sounding worried. I shrug it off.

"I'll be fine," I reassure her as I pin my hair up. Grabbing my sword, I sneak out through my window. Ulla follows me, concerned about getting caught. Opening the door to the gym, I signal Ulla to look for the dummy. I can feel her restraint as she does what I told her to do. I swing the sword in the air trying to warm up my wrist. I switch hands to get used to the feeling. I noticed Ulla's strength had grown as well since Hades has her pulling weights too. As she pushes the reconstructed dummy, I can see the toned muscles on her four legs. I rush to help her out.

I examine the sewed up dummy. Its head is poorly sewed back on its shoulders. It has new burlap covering the slashes. I feel bad about making new slashes, but I need to release all my emotions. I still feel angry, but I don't know why? I know some of it goes to Mason, but the other half? Swinging my sword, I warm up my legs and eye the dummy closely. With a swift movement, the fabric of the dummy rips with a single contact of my blade.

"Take it easy, Ursula." I hear Ulla repeatedly say in my head. I cut the dummy up even more as my anger grows.

"I know," I shout. My arm burns as I keep swinging the sword. Sweat drips down my face, and I start to breathe slowly. Stabbing the dummy, I kick it off my sword. I stop and look down at it. Some of the hay is scattered across the floor. I pick the dummy back up and repeat the process. The focus of my anger is not getting any more transparent, which irritates me even more. Shouting in anger, I decapitate the dummy once more.

"Right when I fixed it you go, and ruin it." I hear Hades comment. I put my blade down. "I thought I gave you a day off?" He asks. I can imagine a smirk on his face.

"I didn't ask for it," I say, turning to look at him. He walks in and looks at the dirty floor. "Sorry about the mess," I claim as I pick up the loose hay.

"Since you want to fight, I'll bring in my secret weapon." He says as if its nothing. My ears perk up. I stop picking up the hay and look up at him.