Shay backed away and circled slowly trying to get the sun behind her back so she would have the advantage of the setting sun.

Maica advanced slowly then struck quickly again. Shay defended and backed away. She knew her only hope was hand-to-hand combat. She could feel the warm flow of blood as it ran down her leg. She had no idea how bad the wound was but knew that she needed to act quickly or she would die here in this room with the setting sun on her face.

Facing the coldness that her mother projected brought her anger to the fore. Any doubt that she had of being...