The Alpha Rat

His eyes ignited with gold. His gaze was unbearable now.

"I can make you beg to tell me everything you know," he said and his voice was a low growl. It sent icy fingers of terror down my spine.

I gripped Slayer's hilt until it hurt. The golden eyes were burning into my soul.

"I don't know," I heard my own voice say, "you look kinda out of shape to me. How long has it been since you took care of your own dirty work?"

His right hand twitched. Muscles boiled under the taut skin and fur burst, sheathing the arm. Claws slid from thickened fingers. The hand snapped inhumanly fast.

I weaved back and it fanned my face, leaving no scars. A strand of hair fell onto my left cheek, severed from my braid. The claws retracted.

"I think I still remember how," he said.

A spark of magic ran from my fingers into Slayer's hilt and burst into the blade, coating the smooth metal in a milky-white glow. Not that the glow actually did anything useful, but it looked bloody impressive.