While Tamara didn't exactly know [b]what[/b] would happen, she figured that [b]something[/b] would when she let her flames begin licking at the blood on her palm. So when the lights went out, and she heard Sonya scream as something hit her, Tamara dropped to the ground and drew her wings over her back like a shield. Sure enough, something hit her from behind, but instead of knocking her over it tripped over her instead, apparently not expecting her to have reacted so quickly. 


[color=red]“Awe, you didn't like that,”[/color] she purred, her eyes flaring purple. [color=red]”Let's see what our little friend loo-”[/color] she stopped, then snarled. [color=red][i]Fuck![/i][/color] 


The… thing, was humanoid in appearance, in the sense that its shape was vaguely reminiscent of a human’s. Which was hardly comforting, but it wasn't what had Tamara infuriated. No, it was the fact that the thing was [b]cold.[/b] To her thermal vision, it should have lit up like a christmas tree against the background, the same way Sonya, Blake, and Tamara’s own hands did, but no, she might as well have been looking at the floor. Which was a problem, because it was moving. Cold things didn't move, because cold meant dead, and dead things were not [b]supposed[/b] to move. So this thing should have been either warm or not moving, not the opposite of both. 


Plus, from the sounds of things, either it or another one like it was mostly likely the reason for her babysitter’s scream, which meant they were probably there to kill all of them. And Tamara’s search was too important for her to die, and even if she didn't, the rest of Axis probably wouldn't take it well if she let her babysitter die. In conclusion: Tamara was gonna have to save the girl's little bubble butt, and never let her forget it. Joy of joys.


First, however, she had to take care of a little problem. Smiling nastily, she tensed her legs beneath her as flames began licking along her wings. [color=red]”The dark’s where all the fun stuff happens, but it's rude to not show your face first. I think you need to be punished!”[/color] She lunged forward, her wings shifting into claw-like hands that seized the… creature by its arms as she tackled it, wrapping her own arms around what she hoped was its neck while her own body blazed, forcing back the darkness with roiling violet light.


The creature staggered from the impact, but what Tamara was unprepared for was the sudden [b]howl[/b] it made as her flames spread onto its body. The unearthly sound drilled into her head with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, causing her grip to slacken. She might be missing nearly the entirety of her life from her memory, but somehow, she was sure that she had never heard anything like that. And its existence triggered a deep-rooted revulsion in her, like every fiber of her being was screaming at her to get away from it. Not that she got the chance to; now mostly unimpeded by her attempt to restrain it, the creature grabbed her by the arm and almost effortlessly yanked her over its shoulder, slinging her through the nearest wall. She cried out as her wings and back exploded with pain, almost as bad as what came from her shoulder when it gave a sickening “pop” that had her vision tunneling. 


When her eyes cleared, they settled on the creature that was following her through the flaming hole she had left. It moved slowly, seemingly unconcerned by possible attempt at retaliation she might make, until it was standing over her, one shapeless foot on either side of her waist, pinning her wings to the floor. Seemingly regarding her for a moment, it bent down and reached towards her neck. 


Tamara wasn’t having any of that. As its fingers started wrapping around her throat, she grabbed what were approximately its wrists and pushed as hard as she could. What little room that gave her allowed her to suck in a deep breath, and roar as only a demon could, directing a concentrated stream of violet flame straight into what she hoped was the thing’s face. 


Either that did the trick, or whatever it was decided that she just wasn’t worth the effort; it got off of her real fast and didn’t come back. Coughing for breath, she massaged her throat, then pushed herself up, gasping as all of her injuries, including a new one in her leg, burst to life. Supporting herself with her wings, she staggered through the hole in the wall, taking in her handiwork. The hotel room was, well, a write-off. Her flames had given way to ordinary yellow-orange, and she’d be lucky if the hotel was going to still be standing when all was said and done. Sonya was probably going to be pissed about that, but at the moment Tamara couldn't care less. She'd damn well better be thanking her for still being alive to complain.