Page 80 of Imprisoned with the Vampire King

Rather than helping me walk, he whisked me off my feet and jogged me back to the place the hallways met the dayroom. Everyone had packed themselves into the elevator hall far enough that I could seal it off with a wall—but there was going to be a problem.

I still didn't have enough power to send the elevator up nearly as many times as I'd need to.

"I'm going to need a big wall," I whispered. "I have to block off the solitary hallway, too."

"Is there anywhere else you can pull the magic from?"

"Not really."

"What about the elevator?" Dante asked.

I gave him a look that said he was insane. "That's the most complex magic here. If I fuck with it, there's no telling what will happen."

I pressed against the bond between our minds. "There's a ladder in the elevator shaft. If I take down the elevator's magic, we can get out, but Reaper can too."

"So we don't touch the elevator," Dante said aloud.

"Not unless we have to."

He looked back at the dayroom. "Alright. We need a big wall. Can you do it?"

"Of course I can. We'll need people watching it, though. I don't know how long it'll survive Reaper." I wiped away a few beads of sweat. "He has these cold, magic tendrils that are really dangerous. As soon as there's a crack, he'll get through."

"I'll figure out the guards. You just need to get it up."

"I think that's my line, Inferno." I looked back at the space, lifting my hands, and Dante almost snorted.

Almost.

"I'll add your doubt in my ability to get an erection to the reasons I'm furious with you," he said into my mind.

"Can we fuck it out instead of talking?"

"Not a chance." He dragged a hand slowly over my hip before heading back to the group and barking more instructions while I built the wall.

It was far from my best magic, but when I tested it with my power, I was confident it would hold. I had enough magic left, so I jogged back to the elevator, and managed to send another group up before the cells unlocked.

I could tell everyone behind me was worried as the elevator came back down, under my control. I didn't have much power left, but it was enough for another trip.

There was chaos on the other side of my wall, halfway through me getting the elevator going again. When I looked back, Dante growled at me to focus.

Another fourteen men made it up to the surface.

We were almost halfway through.

I silently counted the prisoners.

Four more trips.

I'd need four more trips.

Fuck.

I let myself lean against the wall for thirty whole seconds, before I saw a heavy mass of magic crash into my wall.

I felt the impact in my chest, and started unweaving magic again as I stumbled toward the barrier.

"No cracks yet," Dante assured me mentally, though he sounded grim.