Faira shouted as the demon seemed to appear in front of her. She straightened and, momentarily forgetting she was already against the wall, tried to step back, her foot only hitting the stone. She quickly looked him over with wide eyes, her breath catching in her throat as his fangs gleamed menacingly in the dim light of the room. She turned her head instinctively as the monster leaned in and whispered, her body frozen momentarily with fear.

[i]You’ve got powers, you idiot![/i] she scolded herself as the demon stepped away. [i]Use them![/i] Her breathing ragged, she resisted the urge to shy away from the creature’s green-speckled gaze.

As fast as humanly possible, she stepped to the side so her back no longer rested against the wall, raised her shaking hands in front of her in a fighting stance of someone who had watched one too many kung fu movies, and her fists burst into flame.

“G-get away from me!” Faira breathed, her breaths ragged as she punched downward with her right hand. The flame surrounding it flew from her fist to explode at the demon’s feet in warning, only to be replaced by another as she returned her arm to its previous position.

She forced her light brown eyes to lock with his, terror shining through their depths despite her disastrous attempt at placing a fierce mask over her face.