Round 101

Silra shifted her weight from foot to foot, torn between the Rogue’s instinct to investigate the tunnels and the very clear danger of disobeying a direct order from someone who was clearly not human. Jeane maintained the crackling barrier with barely an effort, her wings fluttering almost imperceptibly as she kept Hera pinned effortlessly against the wall. The air around them buzzed with magical energy, and Silra could feel it prickling against her skin like tiny needles.

Abby stood frozen mid-room, her wide brown eyes fixed on Jeane’s face in a mixture of terror and morbid curiosity. She had seen the wings when they first appeared—real, not some trick of the light or special effects—and the realization that this woman was something other than human sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through her veins. Her feet seemed to move of their own accord, taking a hesitant step forward before she caught herself, forcing them back. What are you? The words came out as barely more than a whisper, but in the charged silence of the room, they seemed to echo loudly.

Jeane’s smile widened, revealing teeth that were just slightly too perfect. “I’m the one keeping you safe from whatever’s down there,” she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “And I’d be happy to demonstrate exactly how safe you are—if you’re willing to cooperate.” The air crackled again, and Silra felt a jolt of electricity dance along her skin despite being several feet away from the barrier.