Maria Frost launched forward, unleashing a flurry of attacks.
Her whip cracked the air, moving faster than Tia could see; there was only a blur of shadow, slicing through the air and leaving behind a momentary void. Despite the narrow confines of the alleyway, Maria's whip seemed unaffected, changing length at will and snaking through the air like an extension of her own thoughts.
Tia grunted, hurling up pillars of shadow, blades, spears, feathers; anything that could serve as a temporary shield. Every defensive measure shattered into motes of darkness, buying her another precious few seconds—but there was no winning strategy against a monster like Maria Frost.
Shit, shit, shit! If only Lynn were here, or even Cardinal… Dammit, I can't believe I'm missing him at a time like this!
