Faira gasped as the familiar voice of Marianne came from the hall, sure her heart had skipped a few beats as she searched the eerily dim hallway for any sign of the threat.

A moment before the woman appeared from the shadows, a gentle tingle, almost like a warning, spread through her. Faira gripped the child with both arms protectively as Marianne addressed her, hating the unnerving gaze the woman gave Little Ann.

Faira glanced to Little Ann and took a deep breath. Still gripping the child’s shoulder with one hand, she stepped so she stood more between Marianne and the child as Conna’Cel questioned the woman.

“I won’t let you lay a filthy hand on her,” Faira growled, using great effort to sound bolder than she felt. Pulling Little Ann with her as she stepped a bit further from the others, she silently commanded a small, thin circle of fire to life. It churned in the air around her and Little Ann, Faira careful to retain control of it to keep it from extending too close to the others around her.

Faira jumped and the fire dwindled slightly as Scarlet spoke from further back, remaindering the girl of the other woman’s existence. She glanced back as Scarlet gasped, not daring to take her eyes from Marianne for too long.