Round 98

Jeane's command hung in the air like a physical thing, vibrating with dark intent. The penthouse suite felt suddenly smaller, the walls pressing in as Abby found herself taking an involuntary step forward, drawn toward the source of that electricity like iron filings to a magnet.

Silra moved swiftly to intercept Hera, positioning herself between the determined woman and the corridor entrance. Her voice was calm but firm, each word measured against the crackling energy that danced across her skin from Jeane's power. "Stop. You don't know what's down there," she said, her teal eyes locked on Hera's face. "You saw that thing. Whatever's happening with Abby isn't natural. And you walking into whatever caused it? That's not brave. That's stupid."

Jeane's smile widened fractionally at Silra's words, an expression that suggested she found the elf's concern amusing rather than threatening. The air around her seemed to pulse with each beat of her wings, the floating ash motes caught in miniature whirlwinds that tracked her movements. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, my dear," she purred, addressing Hera directly now. Her voice dripped with honeyed venom, each syllable a caress and a threat simultaneously. "The tunnels beneath this building are... dangerous for those who don't know their way around." She extended one hand toward the corridor entrance, and the shadows seemed to deepen at her fingertips. "You see, there are certain... secrets down there that are best left undiscovered by the uninitiated."

The electric barrier between Hera and the tunnel shimmered, intensifying for a moment before settling back into its crackling dance. Jeane's crimson eyes never left Hera's face, watching for any sign of weakness or wavering resolve.