The electricity was throbbing through her, crackling brighter across her skin, trying to force its way out of her. Elle whimpered at the combined strain of controlling her ability and the pain lancing through her shoulder.

She squinted through bleary eyes as the creature lunged again, only to have it stop, suddenly engulfed in flames. And then she was somehow on the ground again, skidding on her side through a sticky mess of her own blood.

There was a man, further down the hall, running away. He must have caused the fire. And Shito... what the hell was he doing? He was attacking the beast? Why would he do that; why would he help her, at the risk of his own life?

As silently as it had come, the creature fell backwards into the Sun Room. And with the realization that the danger was gone - for now, at least - Elle was able to suppress the electricity racing through her veins. She channeled it safely into her hand, using the light shimmering across her knuckles to peel back the torn scraps of shirt glued to her shoulder. She needed to assess the damage that thing had done.

It hurt like a bitch, that was for sure. There was a deep cut, made deeper and wider by the creature's fingers digging into it. She still had a full range of motion, but each time she moved her arm, hand, or even fingers, pain shot through her entire body.

"Just what I need," she grumbled sarcastically.