Round 105 Transcript

At bathroom in a New York high rise penthouse suite, the pressure shifts from waiting to immediate risk. The ward answers the party's presence with a fresh pulse through the stone and no one can mistake it for safety. The nearest sign of danger is now structural collapse imminent. Someone has to answer that change now.

I let go of the door and step back, breathing hard. The wardstone pulses are making my teeth ache—I can feel them through the soles of my boots now, climbing fast. I’m bleeding from where the stone frame cut into my palms trying to hold it. Silra’s right—the panic isn’t helping. Neither is whatever this is—my tits are still leaking and that’s not normal even for me when just stressed. The fluid is warm and sweet-smelling on my shirt, soaking through the fabric. I can see Hera staring at the wet patches spreading across my chest with wide eyes and something like fascination mixed with horror. “Halie has holy fire,” I say, voice rougher than I meant it to be. “She’s got that side covered. Silra—you’re better at mechanics than any of us. Focus on bracing this door so it doesn’t come down entirely even if the wardstone wins. Hera.” I meet her eyes directly. “Stay in the corner and try to breathe.”

I’m not being cruel—I just need one person stable or we all fall apart and that person can’t be me right now because my demon half is riding this panic hard and I am two seconds from letting it show. The wings want out, claws are pushing at my fingertips, and if I don’t ground myself soon someone’s going to notice. The wardstone pulses again, louder this time, like a fist hammering against the door—and the entire floor tilts under us. For a moment we’re all hanging there on balance, then it slams back down with enough force to knock Halie off her feet despite her shield spell. She catches herself but barely. “Move,” I snap at Silra, already stepping forward again because someone needs to hold this side and my control is better than no control at all even if it means pushing through the wardstone feedback until something gives way or we all die trying.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I brace myself against the bathroom door, mirror jammed under the handle. The water from the broken shower stall rises fast around my ankles and the building groans ominously. "Silra, help me hold this!" I shout over my shoulder. "Abby, is there anything else we can use to brace this door?"

I brace against the door frame harder, trying to match Silra's strength while keeping my shield between us and whatever's on the other side. The wardstone pulses are getting stronger now—faster—and each one feels like nails scraping inside my skull. Jeane, stop! You're feeding it with all that energy. My voice comes out sharper than I intended because Hera is right there, pressed against the far wall, and I can't let anything hurt her. The thought makes something hot and protective flare in my chest despite the danger of touching her corrupted skin. I shift my stance on the slick floor, trying to find better purchase. Hera, stay back—against that far wall. Silra, help me hold this side. My shield flickers as I adjust but stays solid enough. The wardstone energy is seeping through now, thin and insidious, like smoke trying to find a way in through every crack. We need another barrier, something physical between us and the door itself. I scan the bathroom quickly—assorted adult toys scattered everywhere from whatever happened earlier, several bottles of lubricant knocked over and mixing on the floor making it slippery underfoot, bondage gear tangled near the tub. The sybian sits there mocking me with its promise of sensation. That dildo—biggest one you've got. We need to create a second barrier between us and the wardstone energy. I point at the largest toy available while keeping my eyes on the door frame, watching for cracks or signs of structural failure. My heart is pounding too fast but I force myself to breathe steady. The wardstone pulses are coming in rhythm now—like breathing—and that terrifies me more than anything else so far. Whatever's on the other side is waking up and I can't let it get close to Hera.