WHO: Everyone at the Hyperion Hotel WHAT: Escape! WHEN: Noon-ish, the day of the snake attack WHERE: The Hyperion, then Annie's shelter RATING: TBD (probably high, though) STATUS: In Progress MOD NOTE: There is a mod post here. Please read it before replying to this thread.
By the time she had reached the lobby, Willow didn't feel like herself anymore. Gone was her perky smile and semi-positive outlook no matter the circumstances. In its place was someone who was frustrated, even angry, and getting worse by the second.
Assuming it was the venom, she tried to ignore the urge to strike out at everyone around her. She instead focused on getting to the front door and turning to face the rest of the lobby. Using magic to raise her voice so she could be heard over the din, she announced quite firmly, "Okay folks, listen up."
When most everyone was paying attention, she continued. Her voice didn't sound like her voice, it was lower. Darker. Reminiscent of a different, very dark version of herself that had plagued Sunnydale a few years earlier.
"We're going to be leaving in just a few minutes," she stated, voice still raised so everyone could hear her. "I'm going to lead us out. I'll provide cover for the rest of you because chances are whoever sent these things in here is laying in wait for us out there. If you aren't injured, help the ones who are. Stick together and get to Anne's shelter. Once we're there, we'll start with the healing. Got it?"
Not bothering to wait for a response, she drew in a breath, exhaled, then turned to the closed doors of the Hyperion. She could sense... something,out there. It was waiting, although she couldn't say for what, and it was powerful. Her lips turned upward into a small, private smirk as her eyes bled to black. "Bring it on," she murmured, letting the magic within her rise until her hair had joined the color of her eyes. Then she held her hands out and magically shoved the doors to the hotel open.
They blew apart, flying in opposite directions into the street from the force of her shove.
Not even waiting for the dust to clear, the now-black haired witch was already outside and moving down the walkway leading to the sidewalk. Her feet didn't even touch the ground but instead seemed to glide a few inches above it. When she reached the end, she stopped and turned to the Hyperion. Raising her arms, she prepared to summon a cloud to provide cover for her fellow comrades but was drawn up short by a sharp pain in her chest.
"No..." she whispered, hair flickering briefly red again as she fell to the ground. Her hand went to her heart, her brow furrowed as she tried forcing out the sudden, angry voice that was screaming in her mind.
Weak, they are weak. They made you weak. STOP THEM! KILL THEM!
Whimpering, she did her best to ignore both the pain and the voice. She struggled back to her feet, her breathing labored. Once more she attempted to summon the cloud. And the voice grew even louder.
"NO!" she finally screamed, magic sparking out around her as she fell fully to the ground in a heap. She lay there for a second, face obscured by her black hair and palms pressing into the cold, damp cement. A heartbeat passed. Then she slowly levitated into a standing position once more and raised her gaze back to the group. An eerie smile filled her face as she arched a brow at them.
The venom, unbeknowst to her, hadn't been simply causing her physical harm. No, the moment it had hit her bloodstream it had gone in search of the magic that made Willow who she was. It had attacked her magical core and corrupted it, from the inside out. Now, just when her friends needed her most, it had finished its task.
"Bored now," she announced as an unseen wind began to whip around her. "Let's play." Her attention snapped to the closest person and she struck out with her magic, energy flying from her fingertips and a dark, sinister laugh bursting from her lips.