Page 22 of His Winter Wonderland

The vampire’s gaze narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak. Winter pushed those fears down. This was a battle. This forest was her battlefield. And she was the Goddess of War. Fear didn’t rule here. Might did. And she would unleash her might on them all this night. Winter called for her dagger.

It disappeared from the slit on the inside of her boot and reappeared in her palm that was at her sides. The vampire felt the sudden movement. As quick as lightning, he grabbed her hand, just as she thought he would. She came up on her tiptoes and head butted him. Her move didn’t have the desired effect.

However, it did anger him. He twisted her wrist back, trying to force her to release the dagger. She held on to it. A warrior never dropped their weapon. He twisted harder. Refusing to let go of her dagger, she ordered it back into her boot. It disappeared. He stared at her hand. She raised her other fist and clocked him in the eye.

Still, it didn’t have the desired effect. He didn’t stumble back, forcing a bit of distance between them. His vision didn’t blur, giving her a chance to hit him again before he could react. None of that. He still held on to her. His eyes still remained her. His eyes that were slowly turning red.

He grinned. That irritated her. Her Goddess powers couldn’t work fully unless she tapped into the energy of the trifecta, Winter, Vicky, and War. But, she still had spells. Vampires hated fire. He opened his mouth and lowered his head.

“Blazing,” Winter whispered.

Fire erupted all over her skin, just as his teeth grazed her neck. The flames forced him to jump back. She wouldn’t be able to keep them going for long, not without the power of the trifecta. She just needed them to last long enough to give her the advantage. And they did what they were supposed to do.

With flames covering her skin, Winter followed the vampire as he stumbled backward, moving away from her flames. He snarled, lips pulling back from his teeth, detracting from the handsomeness. Good. She wanted him to look like the monster he was. She called for her dagger and tossed it at him.

Using vamp speed, he dodged it, lunging left. Just as she hoped. After tossing, she moved to the side. When he leaned left, her fist landed in his jaw. She didn’t stop there. His speed was his advantage. But she’d fought vamps before. She knew she had to stay one step ahead of him.

“Trail,” she whispered the one-word spell that would make it possible for her to see his aura. Even when he used vamp speed, his aura would let her know which direction he was going. She would match his speed as best she could. They stayed within the circle of vampires as they battled.

Her flaming skin was causing him bodily harm and his movements were becoming slower. Each time she struck him, the blow plus fire weakened him. Blood poured from the side of his mouth. He couldn’t touch her. His claws struck out but he always pulled back, just shy of coming in contact with her fire.

She had to end him and those around them soon. Because after the flame went out, her energy level would be damn near depleted, leaving her vulnerable. If only Vicky and War would rise up. Why did she have to do it alone?

"They said you were powerful. But it seems you need fire to help you win a battle. Not only that, but you also have to take on an image that doesn't belong to you."

What the hell was he talking about? Had that last hit to his head caused him to see things? She didn't want to talk. She needed to concentrate. With no powers of the trifecta fueling her, she had to rely on her on strengths.

Winter used a little of her strength and pulled from the fire flaming up on her skin to create a fire ball. A small one. She couldn't risk using up too much energy. The vampire raced from one spot to the other. Damn vamp speed.

"I heard vampires were fearless," Winter called out. "It seems you're a coward. First you brought other vamps with you to take down one little woman." The vamps forming a circle around them hissed. Winter tune out the distraction. "And now, you're using your vamp speed to try and dodge my attack."

She couldn't see him. He was moving too fast. Back and forth. Here and there. She turned in a circle, following the dark aura surrounding him. Most creatures had colorful auras. Only the truly evil had dark auras. Even she had a red aura, sometimes, silver, depending on her moon.

"Stop and fight, coward," Winter called out, figuring out his pattern. Left, right, back, stutter step, then left again.

"Coward? A woman in disguise holding a fire ball while surrounding by flames dare call me a coward.” His loud laughter echoed through the night.

She had to keep him talking. The ball of fire whirled and sparked within her palm, ready to do what it was there to do.

"Hurry," Vicky whispered. "Energy draining. War is already too weak to speak."

"Why is this happening?" Winter asked. "We're the Goddess of War. It should take more than this one vampire to weaken us like this."

"He's not normal. How many times do I have to say it?"

"But I don't know what that means."

"He's him," Vicky said and then coughed.

Fear threaded through Winter's veins. Not one in her life had she ever heard Vicky cough.

"Need to slumber," Vicky whispered. "Hate to leave you alone. Tried... to stay.... with you."

Tears sprang to Winter's eyes. She didn't like possessing a demon spirit. In fact, she hated it with a passion. But this was the life given to her. She had no choice but to accept it. It wasn't like she could get rid of the demon. And she'd tried. She really couldn't get rid of that part of herself.

However, no matter how much she hated that part of her, only she was allowed to hate it, fight with it, and try to wound it. This vampire wasn't. For the pain and discomfort, he'd caused her demon, he had to pay.

He continued to call her a coward. His vampire brethren continued their hissing. Winter kept her eyes on his dark aura. Left. Right. Stutter-step then left again. He was moving to a beat. It reminded her of the silly dance Rhen showed her in dreamland. Winter shook her head. Don't think about that. No distractions.