Who would have thought that just after my fourth birthday, I would fight for my life against a monster of legend? I saw it rear back for a palm strike. Its’ clawed hand was opened and coming toward me, I would never have known that this witch was so fast or skilled. “You bitch!” She screamed, spittle flying from her lips. “Nearly twenty years of planning and now this.” The last syllables came out as a hiss.

Without thinking, I slashed up with my knife; it was a large fixed blade in the Bowie style. Her palm caught me badly on my left shoulder, I staggered even as I tried to dodge the blow. Fortunately, the monster’s claws missed. Not even a scratch from the one-inch talons. My long blade came away dripping a faintly iridescent pinkish blood as my stroke slashed across her wrist. I had hoped I might take her hand off, but no. The blood was dripping on the hardwood floors of the ballroom.

I laughed at her. “To think a sixteen-year-old could stop you…” I crowed. I knew my one chance was to make her angry. Angry people make stupid mistakes.

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“You are a nithing,” She bellowed. “I’ll kill you and take this city. All these...” She gestured around at the school students who had come for the prom. They huddled away from us, the looks of terror on their faces told a horror story. The girls' bright-colored dresses flashed as they ran to get out of our way. “I’ll kill them slowly when I come into my power.” She tried to kick out at me, her hand performed gestures to cast a spell.

“Who are you to do that?” I queried as I cast a spell, energy darts. “Look at you, you’re what… thirty-plus years old and still a sophomore in high school?” I laughed at her again to distract her, my charisma giving me cues on how to insult her. “You’re nothing but a glass cannon that's going to get crushed.” I taunted. “You have to cast a glamor to get a date and even then, you’re a pale imitation of a woman.”

“I am a Rephaim. I will be your queen and a god under the system. Who are you to tell me no!” The creature flared its black broken wings and roared. “DIE!!!!” As I dodged away from her malevolent strike.

“Bitch, I’m the Sorceress of San Antonio, Now get off my lawn.” I roared as the energy darts I had summoned shot out and struck the spawn of fallen angels. “To think I used to call you friend!” I said as I drew on my magic once more to end this.

his.