Fighting to rescue
Leia's POV
"Recheck the guest list," Venia confidently instructed, referring to the pseudonyms she had used to register us on the guest list.
The female security guard scanned the list, then apologized with a bow, "I see the names mentioned. I'm sorry for stopping you ladies like this. Please forgive me."
"It's okay," Jess responded sternly. We walked in, donning masks for the masquerade party. We blended into the crowd, and I glanced at my wrist, revealing a map visible only to me. The mark on the map indicated Jennifer's location in the dungeons. Jess skillfully manipulated a lock, gaining us access to another building wing. Meanwhile, Venia and Dina kept watch, prepared to handle any backup.
As we ventured further, my heart raced. The spiraling staircase we descended felt ancient, lit only by magically ignited torches. "We'll soon encounter a large group of security. Be ready," Jess warned.
I nodded in agreement, feeling the daggers concealed beneath my dress. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
"Let the show begin," Jess murmured. My grip on my dagger tightened. We split up as we emerged from the staircase: I went right, and Jess left. We strategically subdued the security guards, aiming to hinder them with sleeping spells whenever possible. But if they showed lethal intent, I was prepared to defend myself with deadly force. At one point, a female security guard resisted my sleeping spell. She lunged at me with a clear intent to kill. I deftly used my dagger to parry her magical attacks. She stared, shocked at how effortlessly my blade cut through her magic.
"I'm asking you once to stand down. I won't hesitate to take you down if you don't," I warned.
"I am the guardian of the traitor's prison. If I must end you to protect my charge, I will," the female security guard retorted. Left with no choice, I went on the offensive. I swiftly incapacitated her, striking at her legs to prevent her from moving, then using a chokehold until she lost consciousness. As I advanced, I was forced to deal with other guards. Unfortunately, three had to be taken down lethally. I despised unnecessary violence, but it was them or me.
Finally, I found Jennifer. Her face was marred with fatigue, her eyes swollen. "Leia," she whispered, "Is this a dream? Are you here?"
"Jennifer, it's real. I'm here to get you out," I assured her. But before we could continue, she fainted.
I approached the cell and took the magic key I'd stolen from a security officer earlier. The magical restraints binding Jennifer were potent and dark. Channeling my light magic, I relentlessly attacked the chains. After several attempts, they shattered, freeing Jennifer's wrists and ankles.
I held Jennifer tightly, struggling to balance her frame while walking in my high heels and flowing gown. As I stepped out of the cell, I realized that the security guards, whom I had previously put under a sleeping spell, had awakened and were now blocking our path. I had to leave the basement to teleport out, since my teleportation magic didn't work there.
Carefully, I set Jennifer on the ground and retrieved a special magic bomb from my clutch, hidden beneath my dress. Jess's creation was designed to keep the guards incapacitated long enough for us to escape. As I set it off, Jess appeared, lending a hand to help me carry Jennifer. Together, we navigated through the dungeon's exit, only to find Venia and Dina fiercely holding off additional security guards.
Jess urgently advised, "You need to leave. I must stay with my team." Without hesitating, I opened a vortex and stepped back into Jess's basement. There, I quickly located the medical kit that Jess had prepared in advance. Using magical beads, I began to heal Jennifer's magic-inflicted wounds. A soft glow emanated from the beads, sealing the injuries and rejuvenating her energy.
An hour passed as I continued to heal Jennifer with the magic beads, watching her breathing return to normal from its previously weakened state. My mind wandered to Jess, Venia, and Dina, and I couldn't help but worry about their delay. Should I go back and help them? The memory of Xavier's warning not to engage with the Rebellion's group stopped me before I could open the vortex.
Instead, I opened a portal to my hotel suite and tenderly placed Jennifer in my bed, pacing back and forth with worry. The thought of breaking the deal with the Rebellion gnawed at me, but I wasn't willing to take out Queen Heather. I changed into a comfortable outfit and began packing, waiting impatiently for Jennifer to awaken so we could return to the wolf realm.
Jennifer's soft moan caught my attention, and I looked over to find her eyes fluttering open. "Leia!" she exclaimed, sitting up suddenly and wincing in pain. "Where am I?"
"You're still in witch land. We need to leave from here," I replied, opening a vortex. But Jennifer's hand shot out, stopping me.
"Who helped you get to me?" she asked, her eyes narrowing. "I know you had assistance, and I'm sure it's from witch land. Susan and her rogue witches can't come here."
"Does it matter?" I countered, my voice tight with frustration. "We need to get to safety."
"It does matter, Leia. Please, we have a problem," Jennifer insisted.
"What do you mean?" I demanded, feeling my anxiety rise.
"Queen Heather is planning to attack the Black Moon and Blue Wood packs," Jennifer explained, her voice trembling. "She thinks your Alpha mates, and you are dangerous to her plans." Her words were like a punch to the gut, and my world suddenly stopped.