Round 193

Jeane shakes Halie harder, panic rising in her chest. Come on, you stubborn—The sound of grinding stone intensifies, and a fresh gust of waterlogged air rushes through the doorway. Fuck! We need to move—now! She staggers upright, one hand still pressed against the altar for support as she tries to maintain her failing barriers. The tendril that had been wrapped around her breast pulses weakly, its energy nearly spent. Abby, grab Halie and drag her towards the door if you have to. I'll cover us somehow until we're through.

Abby nods frantically, her small hands grasping Halie's arms as she tries to pull the larger woman into a sitting position. She's so heavy! She grunts with effort, managing to shift Halie slightly but not enough to move her across the room. I can't—she won't budge!

Jeane grits her teeth, the strain of maintaining her wards visible in the tense set of her shoulders and wings. Then we'll have to leave her for now! The magic's about to overload—I can feel it building pressure. She takes a stumbling step towards Abby, one hand extended as if to help while the other remains pressed against the altar, fingers splayed. We move together or not at all—those glyphs could reform any second and I won't be able to stop them next time.

As if to punctuate Jeane's words, a section of the floor near the doorway begins to glow faintly with the same sickly green light that had animated the altar earlier. The stone beneath it trembles ominously. Oh shit! Abby yelps, letting go of Halie and scrambling backwards. It's happening again!

Jeane's eyes narrow as she watches the glyphs begin to form once more. Not on my watch. She raises her free hand, palm out towards the forming symbols, and a wave of crackling energy pulses from her fingertips—it's weak, barely visible, but it washes over the floor and causes the new glyphs to flicker and fade. Move! I can't hold that for long!

Abby doesn't need to be told twice. She grabs Halie under the arms and begins to drag the unconscious woman towards the doorway, her feet slipping on the smooth stone floor as she struggles with the weight. The magical current in the air makes her skin prickle, and she can feel a low humming vibration building beneath them. This is insane! she mutters through gritted teeth as she hauls Halie across the room.

Jeane follows close behind, her wings half-spread for balance as she backs towards the exit. The tendril that still connects her to the altar pulses weakly, sending a final jolt of residual pleasure-pain through her system. You've got this! she encourages Abby, even as she feels her own vision beginning to blur from magical exhaustion.

They reach the doorway just as the glyphs on the floor flare brightly once more. A wave of force slams outwards from the altar, and Jeane throws up a hasty shield—it wavers but holds, barely containing the blast. Go! she shouts, pushing Abby through the opening with her free hand while she maintains the barrier with the other.

Abby stumbles through into what appears to be a narrow tunnel carved from living stone. The air here is damp and cold, and she can hear the distant sound of rushing water. We made it! she gasps, collapsing to her knees and dragging Halie close to keep her warm in the chilly air.

Jeane follows a moment later, her wings folding against her back as she half-falls through the doorway. She lands heavily beside Abby, immediately dropping into a crouch and panting heavily. Fuck—I thought we were dead for sure. She risks a glance back at the now-closed stone door, then at the magical barrier she'd just managed to maintain—it's flickering ominously, barely visible even in the dim light of the tunnel.

They're free from the altar room, but the tunnel ahead is dark and unknown. Well, Jeane says between ragged breaths, that was fun. Now what?