The Price of Power

Hera's skull slammed against the dirt ground as Kreel pounced on top of her, his gaping maw lunging for her throat.

She barely had time to react. She kicked wildly, her boot catching him in the stomach, but he barely flinched. His claws dug into her arms, pinning her down.

The staff. She could use it again. But that was a risk.

What if she killed Kreel? She couldn't do that to him. Seeing his dead corpse a second time would be too much.

Her fingers tightened around the staff's smooth surface. A surge of energy pulsed through her veins, responding to her thoughts, ready to be unleashed. All it would take was one burst, and she could send him flying.

But what if it did more than that?

Kreel snarled, bloodied teeth inches from her face. Hera twisted her head to the side just as his jaw snapped shut, missing her neck by centimeters. 

"Damn it, Kreel!" she hissed, shoving against him with every ounce of strength she had left.