Round 13

The tension in the abandoned church on the outskirts of the city tightens for a beat as the interruption refuses to dissipate. The sound of a third car arriving outside carries clearly through the thin walls, its engine rumbling to a stop adding another layer of urgency to the situation. Halie, still visibly shaken from the near-miss with the authorities, takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her eyes dart between Jeane and Hera, worry etched across her features as she considers their next move.

Hera, her athletic frame tense, meets Halie's gaze with a barely-visible nod of understanding. She knows they need to find a way out of this mess that doesn't involve confessing their true purpose or putting anyone in immediate danger—especially not after what just happened between her and Jeane. The memory of the sorceress's cold fury still sends shivers down her spine, even as part of her can't help but admire the woman's sheer power.

Silra, the slim elf technomancer with her signature silver-blonde undercut, remains uncharacteristically silent in the corner. Her teal eyes scan the room, taking in every detail as she processes the implications of what she just witnessed—or rather, what she didn't witness through her usual array of monitoring tools. The lack of any significant interaction between Jeane and Hera before the interruption suggests something more sinister than mere power play at work.

Jeane, her tall frame radiating an aura of barely-contained power, stands near the center of the room. Her pale skin seems to glow faintly in the dim light, long white hair cascading over her shoulders as she glares at each member of her makeshift coven in turn. The black curved horns atop her head seem almost menacing now, a stark contrast to her usual alluring demeanor. She knows she needs to regain control quickly—this plan is already teetering on the edge of disaster, and she won't let years of meticulous preparation unravel because of some civilian's misguided attempt at heroism.

The air inside the church feels thick with unspoken tension, each member of the group grappling with their own fears and doubts. The sound of muffled voices outside grows louder, punctuated by the occasional beam of a flashlight sweeping across the windows. They're running out of time to decide their next move—stay and face potential exposure, or leave and risk losing everything they've built.

Jeane's voice cuts through the tense silence. "We need to move Hera somewhere out of sight before those officers decide to force their way in. Silra, can you create another diversion?"