Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

With one scream of fury, she plunged the cold steel into black matted flesh, just behind the hellhound’s ear. The sword sliced through the skin like it was made of water, forming a line under its chin. The force of her leap carried her up the other side of its neck and over the top. Nell finally fell to the ground, crouching next to the beast, her sword stabbed into the ice in front of her. There was a sullen look of death on her face. 

            The hellhound stared at me, those dark red eyes burning into my soul. It didn't make a move or a sound. Then, with one quick movement, its head rolled to the ground, cauterized at the neck by Nell’s sword. I was startled by the sight, in shock even. One minute the beast was widening its jaw to devour us, the next it was dead, decapitated by one of its own. I didn't know what to think.

            Nell stood from her crouch and pulled her sword from the ice. It quickly vanished into smoke and was gone. Her face softened as she looked at me, a sense of pain in her eyes. What had she done? She had killed one of the Underworld’s minions, and for what reason? To save us? I didn't know what to say.