Bee's leap into the house was both elegant and feral, her leopard form a breathtaking force of nature. Her coat was a deep, radiant yellow, almost glowing in the dim light, her pitch-black spots forming intricate patterns like a living piece of art. Her body moved with terrifying precision as she launched herself at Chinasa, her claws slashing the air.

Chinasa, ever aware, twisted at the last moment, but not fast enough. Bee's claws raked across her face with a sickening rip, leaving deep, angry gashes. The witch staggered back, her hand shooting up to her face as she let out an inhuman shriek.

Nze crumpled to the ground, gasping for air, his limbs trembling as the crushing force dissipated. His mind reeled, torn between the terror of Chinasa's power and the desperate hope ignited by Bee's defiance.

Bee crouched protectively in front of him, her sleek, muscular form coiled like a spring. Her glowing amber eyes locked onto Chinasa with deadly focus. She snarled, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers through the air.

Chinasa lowered her hand, revealing the gaping wounds Bee had carved into her once-perfect face. Blood, dark and viscous, dripped down her chin. Her lips curled into a snarl of her own, her beauty momentarily marred. "You little shit," she hissed, her voice reverberating unnaturally.

The wounds began to close, knitting together with an eerie speed. Within seconds, her face was flawless again, but the fury in her eyes burned hotter than ever. She lunged at Bee with unnatural speed, her skeletal, clawed hands outstretched.

Bee met her head-on, her powerful hind legs propelling her forward. The two collided with a force that shook the room, sending furniture skidding and pictures crashing to the floor.

Chinasa lashed out with one clawed hand, her movements impossibly fast and precise. Bee dodged, her feline agility keeping her just out of reach, but Chinasa anticipated her next move. With a flick of her wrist, dark tendrils erupted from the floorboards, coiling around Bee's legs.

Bee roared, twisting her body with savage strength, shredding the tendrils with her claws. She lunged again, her jaws snapping inches from Chinasa's throat.

Chinasa spun, her bare feet hovering inches above the ground, and struck Bee across the side with an open hand. The blow sent the leopard sprawling into a cabinet, shattering glass and splintering wood. Bee scrambled to her feet, shaking off the debris, her eyes glowing with renewed determination.

Behind her, Nze tried to move, but the ground beneath him shifted unnaturally. Giant hands, made of dark, shadowy energy, erupted from the floorboards and pinned him down. They wrapped around his arms and legs, forcing him to the ground despite his struggles.

"Stay put, little boy," Chinasa snarled without even looking at him. "This isn't your fight."

Bee growled, low and dangerous, and pounced again. This time, she was faster, her claws raking across Chinasa's chest. Chinasa hissed in pain, retaliating with a backhanded swipe that sent Bee skidding across the floor.

The two circled each other in the wrecked living room, the air crackling with tension. Chinasa's hands glowed with dark energy, her claws lengthening into jagged, blade-like extensions. Bee's tail swished back and forth, her muscles rippling under her golden coat as she bared her teeth.

Chinasa struck first, her movements a blur. She aimed a killing blow at Bee's neck, but the leopard twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack. Bee countered with a powerful swipe of her paw, catching Chinasa's arm and leaving deep gashes.

Chinasa snarled, summoning more shadowy tendrils to ensnare Bee. They shot toward the leopard like snakes, but Bee darted between them with fluid grace, her claws slicing through the dark energy like it was paper.

Their battle raged across the room, each blow and counterblow destroying everything in their path. The couch lay overturned, walls scarred by claw marks, the air heavy with blood and rage.

Suddenly...

A searing light erupted from the above the stairs, blazing like a fire but white and pure. It slammed into both Bee and Chinasa, throwing them apart like rag dolls.

At the top of the stairs, Naomi stood in soft pajamas and unassuming appearance as she raised two wooden sticks, forming a makeshift crucifix. Her voice rang out, clear and commanding, as she recited a passage from the Bible:

"Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

Another searing light erupted from the crucifix, blazing like a holy inferno. It slammed into both Bee and Chinasa.

"You foul spirits of hell," Naomi declared, her voice unwavering, "get out of our house!"

As she began descending the stairs, the wooden sticks in her hands caught fire. Flames licked the wood but did not consume it, nor did they burn her skin. Nze stared in disbelief, his mind racing to comprehend how this was even possible.

At the top of the stairs, Eli stood silently, his hands clasped behind his back, his face unreadable. His presence, though calm, was commanding, as though he were the conductor of this strange symphony of chaos.

Bee shook her head, dazed by the blast of holy light. Her leopard form shuddered as she tried to steady herself, her glowing eyes darting between Naomi and Nze. For a moment, her gaze locked with his, searching for something—

Nze's expression was pained, torn between his concern for Bee and his fear of the unfolding battle. His eyes seemed to plead with her, but they held no answers.

Bee growled low, her ears flattened against her head, a gesture somewhere between apology and defiance. She edged a step closer to Nze, but Naomi's holy fire blazed so bright it felt like an unspoken warning: Not now. Bee wasn't the danger here—she wanted Nze to see that, wanted Naomi to see that—but this wasn't the moment for explanations or second chances. He was safe now, or at least safer than he'd been a moment ago. That was enough. With one last glance at Nze, torn between staying and slipping away, she turned and bolted into the forest. The growl that escaped her throat was quiet but certain, a promise to herself, to him, to the universe: This isn't over.

Chinasa hovered mid-air, her crimson gaze locking onto Naomi with a lazy kind of menace. Her lips curved into a crooked smile, the kind that dripped disdain like a leaky faucet. "Ah," she said, voice laced with mockery, "a woman of the cloth, I see. Solomon's Holy Witch, no less." She let out a low, humorless chuckle, shaking her head as if the whole concept amused her beyond reason. "I thought your kind had been wiped clean off this miserable earth. Shows what I know, I guess."

Naomi's steps were measured, each one deliberate, as she descended the stairs. She met Chinasa's gaze with unwavering resolve. "The word of God has not vanished, nor will it ever. His light will shine, even in the darkest corners where you crawl."

Chinasa's mocking laugh deepened, resonating through the room like a dirge. "You think scriptures from your little book can bind me, girl?" she snarled, lunging forward. Shadows writhed around her hands, twisting into blades that clashed with the glowing crucifix.

Naomi's voice boomed again, quoting scripture:
"The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways."

Another blast of holy fire erupted from the crucifix, brighter and more ferocious than the first. It struck Chinasa squarely in the chest, flinging her across the room and into the wall with a bone-rattling crash.

Chinasa staggered to her feet, her crimson eyes burning with rage as she squared her shoulders toward Naomi. She floated a few inches above the ground, her aura of darkness crackling with raw power. Her lips twisted into a sneer as she regarded the young woman descending the stairs.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!"

The crucifix flared again, releasing another blast of divine energy. The light struck Chinasa dead center, hurling her into the wall with a deafening crash that sent cracks spiderwebbing across the plaster.

Chinasa groaned as she slid to the floor, her once-beautiful face twisted in fury. She let out a guttural scream, propelling herself forward with supernatural speed. Her taloned hand slashed through the air toward Naomi.

But Naomi stood firm, raising the flaming crucifix once more. Her voice rang with authority:

"Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!"

Another burst of holy fire erupted, its brilliance overwhelming the room. Chinasa was flung backward like a ragdoll, her scream echoing as she crashed through the doorway and landed outside.

The air grew still for a moment, save for the faint crackling of Naomi's fiery crucifix.

Naomi lowered the crucifix slightly, the fire dimming as she glanced over her shoulder at Nze, who had been released by the giant ghostly hands conjured by Chinasa. "Are you all right?" she asked gently, but her eyes were already scanning the room, wary of another attack.

From outside, Chinasa's enraged voice echoed through the night. "This isn't over, Sister!"

Naomi narrowed her eyes, her grip on the crucifix tightening. "It never is."

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚

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