Illumine Her by Sieni A.M.

gift?”
    “Get your hands off me!” She coaxed herself to remain calm but panic was rising quickly, clouding her mind and overtaking her clear-headed senses.
    He snickered close to her neck, and then licked her there. Alana’s eyes widened. With his other hand he reached up and palmed her breast, squeezing it hard. She gasped in shock. She shook with fear and struggled to free herself, but he was much larger and stronger than she was. He chuckled low and squeezed harder. Think! Her brain raced together with her heartbeat. The music outside was much too loud for anyone to hear her if she screamed for help. It was time to act. She brought her free arm up and slammed her fist to the side of his face, her delicate fingers meeting clammy skin and hard bone. She flinched as the pain exploded through her hand, but the force was enough to loosen his grip to press his own hand against his cheek. He gave out a terrifying roar, his eyes flashing with anger, before charging towards her. Alana leaped back and turned to run when the man was tackled roughly from the side knocking him down on the floor. The vase of flowers fell and shattered loudly, spraying water and glass everywhere.
    Manu straddled her attacker and landed quick blows to his face. The man grunted in pain and retaliated by punching him on his sides, struggling under the weight, attempting to buck him off. But Manu’s size and strength were no match for him. The noise from the scuffle broke the attention away from the party as people waded into the room to watch the commotion unfolding. A couple guys rushed towards the pair and attempted to pry Manu off the man, but he continued to plant swift punches to his face and chest.
    “What’s going on here?” Ruby shrilled before she entered the room. “Manu, get off him!”
    Manu wiped his mouth and stood, sending daggers towards the heap on the floor. Alana’s attacker looked back up and snickered through a bloody mouth. “You keep your dirty hands off her,” Manu bellowed.
    The man swore back and spat out blood. He stood and swayed on his feet before locking eyes with Ruby. Ruby stared back with venom.
    “Alana, did he hurt you?” Manu came towards her trembling form. His body was taut, fists balled and cut. The adrenaline rush was slowly waning from her body’s system, and she moved a shaky hand through her hair. She winced in pain when she remembered it was the same one she used to sock him in the jaw.
    “I… I think I’m okay,” she stammered. “I hurt my hand trying to fend him off.” She was too ashamed to inform him that her breast was pulsing with pain as well.
    “Let me take a look at it.” Manu gently held her hand in his own and inspected it silently. “Can you flex your fingers out for me?” Alana did as he asked. He let out a breath of relief. “Good. There’s nothing broken, but you’re going to have some bruising.” He growled out orders for someone to bring ice and a dish towel.
    Ruby sauntered to where they stood. Her concerned look touched Alana. “Are you alright?” She took the ice and towel from someone and wrapped them together snugly before placing it over her hand. Alana hissed at the contact. “Come sit.” Ruby led her to the same couch she was sitting in earlier.
    Alana looked over to where her attacker was standing, flanked by two burly guys holding onto his arms to keep him in place. He gave her a heated glower, and she snapped her gaze away.
    “Do you want that bastard arrested?” Ruby asked determinedly, shocking Alana. “I can have him escorted to the police station.”
    That brought an uproarious reaction from the man, and he strained against the men beside him to get away. “You can’t do that, Ruby! How long have we known each other?” Ruby ignored him and looked at Alana.
    Alana inhaled a shaky breath and looked at the man. He shot her a threatening glare. She nodded slowly to Ruby’s question before she could think about what she was doing. Drunk or not,