Page 222 of Psycho Gods
I glared at him as my teeth chattered together.
Starting small would have been me trying to put out a fireplace while warm and cozy indoors.
“Okay, I’m going to release my fire—get ready.” He bent his knees and took a step away from me. “I don’t think it should be that much because the other men aren’t present.”
Flames roared as he exploded.
I was not ready.
Scarlet fire hissed as it fought against the blizzard. The wind sent red shooting out in all directions like a sadistic flamethrower.
I put my hands forward to get a little warmth.
It felt delicious.
If only I had some marshmallows and chocolate; suddenly I was craving s’mores.
“Try to stop me now!” Malum bellowed as he waved his arms. Ice melted around him, and the rocks in his vicinity caught fire.
Sucking on my pipe, I tried to figure out the best way to kill him while exerting the least amount of energy.
I patted my pockets.
I didn’t have a gun.
Regrettable.
Flames leaped higher off him. “Give it your best shot!”
Raising my hands before me, I imagined the ice that always dripped from my fingers crawled toward the flames and put them out.
Nothing happened.
Snow mixed with fire and the elements roared.
Malum tipped his head back and screamed out fire.
There was no doubt in my mind, he was the dragon of the House of Malum.
I pulled off my warm mittens and stuck them into my pockets. My bare fingers were immediately covered in a sheen of ice that had nothing to do with the weather. I pointed them toward Malum.
Scarlet leaped off him, toward me, like solar flares on a sun.
The ice thawed off my fingers.
I put my hands under my armpits.
Hopping up and down to warm myself, I yelled, “It’s not working!”
Exhaustion weighed down my bones, and my eyelids felt too heavy for my face. The urge to curl up under the flames and sleep was overwhelming.
Not again.
“Stab me with your feather, that worked before!” Malum yelled as his flames shot toward me with increasing frequency.
He took a step forward.
I basked in his warmth.