Finish her off.

You step forward and finish the hateful creature with your knife with one strike. The creatures dark eyes glare at you even as it bursts into bluish flames and fills the cavern with the scent of brimstone. After a moment it almost seems to explode, the demonic essence rising in a great plume of purplish flame before subsiding. It must have been a powerful demon to have such a spectacular end... but then, it survived a lightning bolt from the goddess so perhaps it was justified.

You turn back to Janine and revel slightly in her look of shock and awe, "Let's get out of here." Avina looks even more shocked, her features twisting through at least a dozen separate emotions before settling on mournful, "You didn't have to..." She trails off, slumping slightly, allowing you to heft her off the altar. Probably demon venom messing with her head.

You each take one of Avina's arms and set back the way you came but she's soon walking on her own, oddly spritely for being trapped by Selena's cult for months. You follow your markings to trace your steps until you reach the final branch point and Avina steps the wrong direction.

"This way, Auntie!"

Avina pauses, glancing back, "They uh, took me this way before, it leads to an old shed outside the wall. It would be better hidden in case anyone is waiting."

Even if your circumstances weren't dubious you would be able to hear the white lie in her words: she wasn't telling you something. Janine had no such compunction and immediately followed her aunt into the dark passage, leaving you at the crux before you could say something.

"Damn it..." You follow them, muttering a prayer of guidance. You feel... something from The Rose but it's not quite clear what it is. As you catch up, Avina is ascending and pushing open a trap door. Your doubts are silenced as you eye the curves of her ass, urgency momentarily forgotten until the round globes disappear out of sight. You have a similar problem when Janine climbs the ladder and a vision of aunt and niece naked and embracing overcomes you for a moment before you give yourself a shake and follow them.

Avina was right, the ladder led into a well made but obviously unused shed. She smiled widely as she peers out of the door, "Coast is clear. Oh how I missed the night sky." You can't begrudge her that and you smile as Janine gives her aunt a hug. Avina visibly shivers, hands clenching and unclenching as the young woman presses up against her. You take that to be a good sign.

"Janine, your aunt has been exposed to a lot of demon... essence. We should probably leave her alone for a while to um, work it out of her system." Avina gives you a greatful look as Janine steps back, face full of concern, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, child, I'm fine. Just as your friend said, I could use some, ah, alone time." Her gaze heats and rests upon you, "Unless you would like to help me purge myself of the demonic taint...?"

"Sabine."

"Sabine. What a nice name."

Janine eyes flick between the two of you, confusion clearly written on her features, "Is there a ritual or something?"

Avina smiles wickedly and you can't help but shiver as her tone leaves nothing to the imagination, "Of sorts."

Not now. Not Now. Not Now. You cycle through a half dozen calming prayers in your mind but none of them seem to be reflected by the goddess, who more closely mirrors Avina's expression than your own.

Janine speaks up after a moment, stepping up to the door, "Well... if it's going to take a minute, I should probably make sure we aren't missed at the Abbey. The less Selena knows about all this the better."

"Wait, Janine-!"

"I'll be discreet, I swear! I just have to check something!"

You had no idea what her plan was but she mistook your fear: you were less worried about her getting captured (which was honestly quite likely, why was she doing this!?) and more worried about you and Avina alone in a quiet room together. The War Mother bit her lip, sauntering over with more sway in her hips than a holy woman had any right to, "So Sabine, ready to begin the ritual?"