Frostbite

Chapter 1

The smart thing to do at that point would be to run toward the door and the sun's safety. Instead, I ran in the opposite direction, toward the fireplace. I grabbed one of the antique swords and turned back toward Elena. I didn't have far to go because she had recovered herself and was standing in front of me.

She glared at me and slammed her fist into the side of my head. I stumbled backwards a couple of steps but that was all she needed. She grabbed my hair and thrust my head back. My head made contact with the fireplace.

I remembered fighting with my mum, how I'd been on the defensive the whole time. That wouldn't work this time. I had to attack. Jabbing forward, I tried to land a blow on Elena. No luck. She anticipated my every move.

Suddenly, from behind her, Isaiah groaned as he started to come around. She glanced back, the smallest of motions that let me swipe the sword across her chest. It cut the fabric of her shirt and grazed the skin, but nothing more. Still, she flinched and looked down in panic. I think the glass going through Isaiah's heart was still fresh in her mind.

And that was what I really needed.