Chapter Eighteen: To Create a New Apprentice

Ellasandra:

Checking my satchel for the ingredients for the upcoming spells, the tips of my fingers grazed my scythe. Smiling warmly to myself, today was a special day. Today Vera became my official apprentice, my daughter spinning into the bedroom with my husband and son in tow. Pride swelled in my eyes, the fond memory of my father taking me caused me to smile softly to myself for a second.  All of us wore the official reaper robes, the fine onyx silk drowning us all. Underneath the cloak, we were required to wear all white to represent our purity. Donning my finest ivory silk dress, Vera's dress matched the Victorian style I was wearing. Throwing the satchel over my shoulder, my scythe spun freely in my palm. Tapping the floor three times, a sleek white door appeared in front of us. Crouching down to her level, my free cupped her face. The desire to make sure she was okay with seemed to bloom inside of me, my love for her growing stronger by the day. 

"If you do this, you can't turn back. You will become my apprentice and eventually collect souls." I warned her gently, her eyes glowing with determination. "Are you prepared for all of that?" Letting out a proud yes, her hand took mine. Pushing the door open, a bright light blinded me the moment we stepped through. The light died down, thousands of different flowers danced into a gentle breeze. Smiling softly to myself, the day my father did this with me tore my heart apart for a quick second.  Why must emotions be so conflicting? The door slamming shut made me jump into the air, my knees smashing into the ground. Groaning in pain, my body was still working against me. Struggling to my feet, I needed to conserve my strength for today. Using my scythe to walk up the glowing tree twisting into the sky, a gasp pouring from her lips. Placing my palm on the tree, a gust of wind blew our hair back. Feeling the power break my insides, blood poured from my lips.

"I need you to fix me." I pleaded desperately, coughing up blood. "I am bringing another reaper into this line of work. I can't do anything when I am this w-" A deep voice rattled the ground, inky blood poured from my eyes.  Stop being such a dick, I yelled silently at the tree. 

"You have been a lovely reaper but I doubt you can train her. She has the dark one living inside of her." He taunted cruelly, his branch throwing me away. Rainbow leaves fluttered in the breeze, my palm catching just what I needed. Swallowing a couple of the leaves dry, my organs began to heal. Swallowing a bunch more, my soul was the only thing that didn't heal. Spitting out the last of my blood, it felt like a train had hit me. Rushing up the tree, my hand smashed into his trunk. Wood whistled by my head, my hand grabbing its core.  Enough was enough! No one talked about my daughter like that!

"You are going to listen to me, you old crotchety bastard. I am going to make her reaper dreams come true and you are going to give her the assistant and scythe she deserves! Do you fucking understand!" Ripping my hand out, my husband and family watched with horror. Reaching for Vera, she bounced up to my side. Placing her palm on the trunk, my fingers curled around the blue vial full of moonwater. Dotting the water along her arm, the only other thing I needed was the crushed up fire lily petals. Blowing them into her face, a dazed look came over her face. Downing the third component, the potion swept me into Vera's mind space. Lord, please let this work out the way I want it to. 

The shadowy landscape was darker than I expected, Vera crying out for help in a long hallway of doors. Opening door after door, panic twisted my face. This part was the hardest part, the reaper having to relive their worst memories. Pausing in front of a jet black door, the hinges creaked open. Stepping through, the walls of a straw hut greeted me. Two dog demon reapers turned towards me, horror rounding their eyes. A villager cut their heads off with their own scythes, a terrified scream shattered the still air. Vera trembled in the corner, her hand reaching for mine. A shadowy hand knocked me out of the door, the lock clicking shut. Banging on the door, her voice snapped me out of my downward spiral. Wanting to make the pain stop for her, my heart seemed seconds from beating out of my chest. 

"It's okay." She sobbed brokenly, her fingers sliding under the door. "I know that I am loved and that nothing horrible will happen to me again." Laying on my stomach with her, her wet eyes met mine. Holding her hand, our love was going to be our savior. Kissing the top of my hand, she ran off into the distance. Off to complete her task, a darkness came over her realm. Pinning my ears, every slur echoed in my head. Cupping my head, it all needed to stop. A quiet fear dawned on me, flames roaring to life around me. Screams of my villagers mixed with the slurs, every breath growing shorter Struggling to keep my composure, the color drained on my face at the burnt bodies crawling towards me. My heart was seconds from pounding out of my chest, every pump felt like a stabbing pain. Wishing it would stop, the door opened with an eager Vera holding a sage scythe. The rough wooden handle with a jagged edge matched her personality, one spin over her head had my nightmare scurrying away. A small sage dog leapt into my lap, the scraggly fur ticking my palms, its long snout rubbing against my arm. Golden eyes watched me with admiration in my eyes, his tongue licking my cheek as his tail wagged. Now this made sense, her golden aura glowing brighter. 

"I am Sagey, her assistant. We are ready to serve as your apprentice." He vowed with a bow of his head, Vera's concern not going away. Shall we get out of here." Clapping his paws together, a bright light blinded us.

Taking a sharp breath, we were back on the beach. Salty waves crashed onto the golden sands, the crippling depression coming back. Vera played with Sagey, my heart aching for my father. Bless her heart for being able to be so free, the emotion creeping back up again.  Struggling to hold myself together, Fireboy clutched me close to my chest. His next words sent chills up my spine, a sad smile dawning underneath my wall of tears.

"Your father told me to tell you to remember that the sun and moon will always fall just as you can visit anytime. He is so proud of you and so isn't your mother. She said that you grew up into a fine young lady. They want you to move forward in life." He whispered sweetly into my ear, his own tears soaking the top of my head. "They love Argon and can't wait to watch him grow up. Your mother really wanted me to tell you one more thing. Don't let everyone's darkness devour you. She said that even as a kid you were eager to take care of every little thing." Crying into his shoulder, my fingers gripped his shirt. Has he always been so warm? Melting into his embrace, something was eating at me. A migraine throbbed to life, a rough darkness stealing me away.

Standing in a field of fire lilies, tear drops hit the petals. Watching them drip into the ground, Flames walked up to me. Sinking to my knees, this had to be a nightmare. Climbing onto my lap, his paws cupped my cheeks. My real smile illuminated my features, the tips of my fingers brushing against his fur.  Was he real? Were my fingers dancing through his fur? 

"My soul can visit you in your dreams." He purred jovially, licking my face. "I could feel that you are lost beyond belief, so let me take you somewhere special that can be our little secret. Come along, my little kitty." Leaping off of my lap, he led the way through the field. A lone wooden tree house twisted into the sky, the golden light illuminated the windows with a warm glow. Running after him, his tail was the last thing I saw going up the stairs. Skidding into a round space with oak lining the walls, orange flames flickered to life. A fluffy ivory rug lay on the floor, his paw pointing to the center. Sitting down across from me, happy tears hit the carpet. Clutching him close to my chest, his purrs echoed in my ears. We had been through so much together. Thankfully, he was there for the birth of my son.

"I think Argon is so cute. Look, I called you here to give you some pointers on defeating Bloodvanya." He uttered simply, getting to the point. "She has a spell book you need to find. She buried it with her wings in the realm of the demons or so I think. Only you can go. You have the blood to open the door. I would love to chat but she is closing in on it. I will transport you there. Do you have your scythe? There are monsters that will devour you whole. You may be immortal but you would have to cut yourself out. That isn't fun. Another thing. Vera was granted real immortality. She is just like you now. I asked for that . Take care of her. Off with you." A flick to my forehead had me twisting through a tunnel of lightning.

Rolling into a cave, my tail tucked in between my legs. A secret rested on the tip of my tongue, the thick onyx door groaned in front of me. A rock had cut my palm on the way in, the door glowing to life the moment I touched it. Groaning open, my shaking fingers reached for my ax. Watching it grow to full length, the handle creaked underneath my increasing anxiety. Stepping through, the door slammed shut behind me. Torches fluttered to life, deep claw marks lined the walls. Claws scraped the wall, the four elements swirling around me. Preparing to fight, a scarred laggard skidded to a stop in front of me. Rubbing his violet scales, fat tears hit the floor. Loneliness burned in his sage eyes, his thick legs trembling with shock. This poor guy only needed a friend, not an enemy. Letting my compassion rule my decision making, I was going to take him home with me. 

"You aren't the monster they speak of, are you? Here's the deal. You help me out before a certain someone comes and I will take you home with me. How does that sound?" I offered kindly, his head rubbing against my palm. "Does such a lovely laggard have a name? I would love to know how to address my new friend." His long tongue flickered in and out, his claw tapping the top of my head.

I am Fogsworth, the black sheep of my people guarding her spell book for her. I would love to leave you. Us black sheep have to stick together, right?" He chimed gleefully, placing me in his pouch. "Let me get you as close as possible." His scaly pouch felt like a warm hug, both of us reaching a familiar understanding. A black envelope appeared in my hand, his name appearing on the letter with special permission to deliver him on my own. Tears welled up in my eyes, the shadows of death curled off of his body. Running forward, the other laggards sneered in his direction. Ignoring them, his smile never left his face. Unable to prevent his death, the knowledge felt like a knife in my heart. Leaping over the guards, he skidded into the temple. Throwing me out of his pouch, horror rounded my eyes at a ball of lightning blowing him into pieces. Letting out a tortured scream, devastation haunted my face. His soul floated into my trembling palm, Bloodvanya sauntering through his remains. No way in hell was I going to let her win, my mental stability not being able to take much more. Tucking it into my salt diamond necklace, my feet bounded towards the shadowy energy curling underneath the furthest door. Pushing through the pain, blades of the four elements combined shattered her balls of lightning. Picking up speed, her body smashed me into the wall of the tunnel. Jamming her hand into my chest, lightning crackled around the seal protecting my soul. Kicking her off of me, my powers had returned to full strength. Unleashing a rain of attacks, I used the dust to obscure my escape. Skidding into the door, the magic lock was the only thing blocking her from me. A single torch flickered to life, gorgeous ruby wings fluttered away. Following the feathers down, a worn leather book caught my eyes. Picking it up, lightning blasted me into the wall. The door blasted open, the options running through my mind. Raising my scythe over my head, dark shadows oozed from the tip. Smashing into me the moment the tip hit the leather, her wings went up smoke as the book wailed with her. Stabbing me repeatedly in the side, my inky quickened the book's ending. Decaying to ash, the trauma of her attack had my world spinning. Searching for the envelope, relief washed over me as the door appeared. Process later and now I was to get out, I told myself through gritted teeth.  Elbowing her in the chest, her body smashed into the empty glass case. Glass shattered across the floor, her next words sending a chill up my spine.

"You dare destroy your father's friend's wings." She snarled through gnashing teeth, my world stopping. "My stupid friend had to get the reaper abilities and not me! You took all that I had!" Limping towards me, the biggest ball of lightning floated over her head. Sprinting towards the door, the air grew still, my hair standing on end. Ripping it open, a soul draining scream burst from my lips the moment her lightning singed my left leg. Crashing through the door, intense pain coursed through my muscles as it faded away behind me. Leaping into my boat, the bench allowed me to hold my scythe in place. The boat groaned to life, the steam not hiding the red blistering burn covering my left leg. Fighting back tears, it hurt to even move. His soul floated into the air, his translucent form taking up all the seats. Tears of pain and guilt poured from my eyes, his claw wagging in the air. It was my job to take him home and I failed, the very thought made the pain all the more real. Wanting to hit the side of my head,  the frustration kept swelling by the second. 

"I got you to where you needed to go. Now it is my turn." He chuckled lightly, accepting his fate. "I lived a long life. Having you treat me kindly was all I needed. You did manage to destroy half of her power. Let's cel-" His face fell at my leg, a tainted calmness haunted the silence. Grimacing in pain, the fact that she was my father's former friend didn't change a thing. Darkness had corrupted her soul and Heaven was the only way to cleanse it. Heaven didn't happen unless your life was over. Processing it all, the sudden realization that I had a client snapped me back to reality. 

"Don't worry about it. It will heal." I assured him insufficiently, my world beginning to spin. Clutching my side, the blood wouldn't stop flowing. Letting him talk about his life, the best I could do was wince during the small jolts of pain. A sigh of relief flowed from my lips at the boat docking itself. Limping off the boat, the boat rocked wildly as he jumped off. Fighting back a fresh set of tears, his head bowed in my direction. Mouthing a silent thank you, his tail was the last thing I saw. Climbing back into the boat, I needed to get home. Placing my scythe into place, a silent yes escaped my lips as it lurched into the proper direction. Fighting the spinning vision, the whole ride back dragged on. Although I couldn't perish, the pain was still fucking real. Pulling into the dock, I collapsed onto the dock. No, I couldn't be trapped here. Begging to whoever was listening, I needed a blessing to get through these injuries. Struggling to get up, my body gave out. A pool of inky blood stained my white outfit. Crawling towards the door, I used my scythe to get onto my feet. Limping towards the door, a loud scream burst from my lips at the sight of my leg decaying. Shit! Her attack had a curse attached to it. Crashing to the ground, my shaking fingers curled around the handle of my scythe. Preparing myself for a world of hurt, cold air rushed around me as I swung it down towards my knee. A tortured wail burst from my lips, the sharp of my blade sliced off all the affected leg. Coughing up blood, my scythe clattered to the rock. Ripping off the hem of my dress, my shaking hands pressed it against my open wound. Figure this out, you fucking idiot. Glancing around for potential material, my eyes fell on the strongest metal we had. That would do, a few options racing through my mind. Fighting the sweat drenching my skin, the bitter venom of the moment ticking me off.  Moving one of my hands, a blast of wind knocked the large chunk. Working through a wall of tears, a couple of knocks on the rock had it rolling into my palm. Pressing it against the nub that once was my leg, it was time to repair the damage I had caused myself. Dropping the bloody clothing to the side, my lips pressed into a thin line. Just do it already!

"Powers of the Earth, mold this metal to make a leg." I choked out, spitting out blood between words. "Please work, damn it." Bright flames blinded me, the intense pain caused a steady stream of curse words to explode from my lips. The flames died down, a black steel leg greeted me. Fighting the urge to vomit, the gears whirred to life underneath the metal. Magic operated the mechanics of it, the hot metal molding to my leg permanently. Sobbing dejectedly for a minute, the despair of losing my leg digging her fingers into my veins. Struggling to my feet, a couple of spins proved its stability. Groaning bitterly to myself, every muscle in my body screamed out in protest. Walking over to the door with most of my weight on my scythe, the door swung open. Stepping out the icy night air bit my cheeks, my eyes falling on a laggard egg. Falling to my knees, my body wouldn't move anymore. All of my power had been used up, the sight creating a vortex of emotions in my mind. Warm sand felt nice against my cheeks, the egg bouncing over to me. Cracks appeared along the tough yellow shell, a baby violet laggard bursting from the abnormally large egg. His sage eyes met mine, his tongue flicking out.  Relief came over me at a very similar energy, the paralysis containing my body not allowing me to reach out for him quite yet. 

"I was reborn as one of your animal familiars. What do you think?" He bragged with a wide grin, his arm length body flipping through the air. "I just know you can make my life amazing. I would still like to be called Fogsworth." Shooting him a shaking thumbs up, a rough darkness stole me away.