She pushes herself against a wall: there is no way out, and the monster isn’t backing off. Where is her magic now, when she needs it? His fangs are dripping with the blood of his last victims, his footsteps noiseless as he approaches his next.

Come on, come on! Concentrate! she tells herself.

The vampire raises an eyebrow in amusement at her frustrated sigh.

“Plan B,” she says under her breath. “Come on, come closer…”

They both make the lunge at the same time, and only one stands when it’s over, blood dripping from her hands, and not his fangs.