Page 104 of Fire Dancer

She shook her head, then ran to the office fireplace and started rooting through the woodpile with her collar pulled up over her nose and mouth.

Amid the din of the fire and the fight, a sickening crack sounded. Ingo had just snapped a bone in the vampire’s neck. Even then, Gregor fought on.

“Here!” Delaney made a tossing motion, then threw me a thick piece of kindling.

I stared at it, feeling sick. It was morestickthanstake. Was it up to the job? Was I?

“Do it!” Delaney yelled.

I raised the stake high and thrust down with both hands. Gregor jolted, and his nails scraped my side. But the worst part was the soft give of his body, the gush of blood.

Still, the vampire fought back.

Using my body weight, I drilled deeper. My hands went cold as frigid vampire blood flowed over them. Then another crack sounded, and his eyes bulged. A moment later, he went limp.

I scuttled away as the body collapsed, then turned to ash. I stared, then hurried to Ingo.

He backed away from the vampire, spitting blood and ash.

I kneeled and threw an arm over his furry, bloodstained back. “Are you all right?”

He snarled and spat in disgust.Could be worse,he said, speaking into my mind.

I sagged in relief, then glanced around, because it was one of thoseOut of the frying pan, into the firemoments. Literally.

“Can you stop it?” Delaney motioned to the flames consuming the door.

Coughing, I shook my head, terrified of what I’d unleashed.

Butnowasn’t good enough. A peek out the window earlier showed me we were high above a stone ledge. Too high. It was the door or nothing.

I pulled my shirt over my nose and mouth, then faced the door with my hands in prayer position. Tilting them forward, I shouted at the fire.

Move!I commanded, sweeping my hands apart.

The fire barely crackled.

“Pippa…” Delaney urged.

I tried again.

I said, move! Now!Even in my mind, my voice was hoarse.

Still nothing. I gulped, then closed my eyes, reaching out for the power I’d sensed before. Reaching…reaching…

Ingo pressed gently into the backs of my legs.You’ve got this, Pippa. I know you do.

My skin pinched, and sweat dripped down my brow. The heat was that intense.

You’ve got this, Pippa,I sensed Abby echo.

Move! Now!I ordered the fire.

The heat wavered, and the flames intensified at the edges of the door.

“Do it again!” Delaney cried.

I repeated the chopping motion. Flames flared out the sides of the door, while the middle dimmed.