Work Text:
“You wretched fools, you really think this will stop me?!” A defiant Delilah screeched angrily at them, breathing heavily with one hand clutching her side. Her blue and black gown was torn and tattered in many places and her billowing skirt had long been burnt and torn into shreds. It would not take much more to completely whittle her down.
“We’re taking Laudna back with us, you bitch!” A shimmering purple lance, crackling loudly with lighting energy, appeared above her head. She had saved this for when she was certain it would be able to take Delilah down once and for all.
Finally, the moment that she had waited for for so long finally came.
“Rot in hell, Delilah!” The moment she uttered out the repugnant name , the purple lance launched itself towards Delilah. There was a shriek of agony as the lance met its target, piercing through Delilah’s torso and sending her flying backwards through the air, finally pinning her against the wall behind her. She writhed in pain for a few moments. One hand clutching at the lance protruding out from her torso. The other reaching out towards her, purple magic fizzing out from her bloody fingers. Her eyes, a similar shade of lilac, glaring at her. Her mouth, blood pouring out, muttered a few inaudible words.
“I…will…endure…” With a final gasp of those three words, Delilah finally slumped back against the wall, motionless.
“…Is it over? Is she dead?” She could vaguely hear the wheels of FCG whirling along the ground near her.
Imogen’s chest heaved heavily, her mind still holding tightly onto the psychic energy that formed the lance, keeping Delilah pinned to the wall while Chetney carefully approached the body, stopping around 30 feet or so from the wall.
“Can’t seem to smell any life from her anymore,” he muttered, sniffing at the air around her, before quickly pinching his nose. “Also, pee-yew! What the hell did she eat when she was alive? The woman goddamn stinks. Worst smell I’ve ever smelled in my four hundred years.”
Upon Chetney’s confirmation, her mind finally released its hold and the lance disappeared, dropping Delilah’s body unceremoniously to the ground. She took a deep breath, trying to catch her breath, and took a quick glance around. All the other Hells were all thankfully accounted for, even if they were all looking a little worse for wear.
“She may look fucking dead now, but this place…whatever this fucking place is, I don’t think the normal fucking rules apply here,” Ashton said, still eyeing their surroundings with paranoia, constantly twirling his hammer slowly around, ready to hit out at any suspicious shadows which may pop out of nowhere.
“Agreed. FCG, can you send a message to Ms Trickfoot and let her know to start the banishment spell? The faster we banish her, the faster we can get out of here and get Laudna back,” Orym instructed.
“Of course,” FCG replied, their eyes lighting up as they prepared to send a message back to their benefactor in the material plane.
“Wait, FCG!” Imogen immediately reached out with a hand and stopped the yellow automaton. The bright flash of light in FCG’s eyes dissipated as they cocked their head quizzically at her. “We’ve gotta make sure Laudna’s fine first. That her soul’s really separated from Delilah.”
The rest of the Hells looked at each other and nodded.
“Oh Laud~na~~ Come out, come out, wherever you are~ Hide and seek time is over~,” Fearne started to call out in a sing-song manner as she took a slow walk around the area, looking up and down, overturning rocks and dead logs to try to find Laudna.
“Laudna, you can come out now. Delilah’s gone!” She walked in the opposite direction of Fearne and called out as well.
There was no response. The rest of the Hells started to look at each other uneasily as each of them started to wander around the area, similarly calling out for Laudna. She gingerly made her way towards where Delilah had first appeared in front of them, a short distance from where the bitch now laid in a crumpled heap on the ground.
It was then she saw a shadow flitting across the area at the edges of her vision. “Laudna?” She quickly whipped around and now saw a shadowy shape, like a black flame, with a strangely familiar humanoid shape to it. She could feel the rest of the Hells turn and start to move towards her, carefully watching her and the flame.
“That’s her! That’s the Laudna I saw in the hut!” Chetney whispered as loudly as he could without scaring Laudna away. “Careful there, ‘Mogen. She scares easily.” She nodded and slowly took a step forward towards the black shadowy Laudna-shaped flame.
The black flame promptly jumped backwards as though it flinched. Imogen immediately stilled her movements. “Laudna, it’s me. It’s Imogen,” she said softly and gently, reaching out towards the black flame. The black flame shifted back and forth, as if warily looking at the group behind her.
Guys, stop moving! Stay back for the time being! I think she's scared of you guys!
The rest of the Hells immediately stopped in their tracks and the black shadow flame stayed still for a moment, occasionally flickering in and out of existence. Whenever it flickered back, she could catch a glimpse of a faint green light buried inside of it. Not purple, like Chetney had described earlier. She wondered if this meant that they had successfully separated Delilah from Laudna permanently.
“I’m here now, so you don’t have to be scared,” she continued to reassure her, her hand still held out towards Laudna, patiently waiting for her to make her move. “I’m here to bring you home. The rest of the Hells are also here to bring you home.”
The black flame moved ever so slightly towards her.
Imogen?
Her eyes widened at the distorted yet still familiar voice in her head. The melodious sound of Laudna’s voice was like the salvation of water to the thirst-parched traveller in the desert, which was her mind. It took her a few seconds before she realised that she had not yet replied to Laudna.
Laudna! Yes, it's me!
Then there was nothing but silence.
Laudna?
Silence. Shit, did she take too long to reply?
“Laudna, please come back to us!” She tried talking to the flame aloud again.
Her words echoed through the eerie silence.
Laudna, I'm right here. Please come back to me.
Her mind reached out to it again pleadingly.
The black flame and the shadowy shapes around it started to coalesced into a large mess of dark shadows and soon the vague humanoid shape started to become more solid and more defined.
“Imogen?”
A tall and gaunt woman, with pale skin and dark lips, finally appeared in front of her, looking at her with confused dark dilated pupils.
“Oh Laudna!” Imogen no longer cared who was watching anymore. She simply ran forwards towards her and threw her arms tightly around Laudna. Laudna stumbled a few steps backwards, nearly knocked over by the force of her embrace, before familiar thin, cold arms start to wrap themselves around her tightly.
I've missed you so much!
She could feel herself crying and she quickly wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, though oddly enough it remained dry. It seemed like tears didn’t exist in astral forms.
I missed you too.
The soft and low voice gently caressed her mind. It was like a comfortable, soothing salve to the gaping and throbbing wound where her heart once laid. She found her chest heaving with effort as she cried even harder as she clung on desperately to the woman who was in possession of her missing heart.
She lost track on how much time had passed until the gentle music of Laudna’s voice filled her head again.
My dear Imogen, while I am beyond delighted to see you and to be in your embrace again, I think perhaps we should stop hugging each other for the time being? The rest of the Hells are looking …quite awkward, I must say.
Imogen nodded as she reluctantly released Laudna from the hug, though her arms still stubbornly wrapped themselves around Laudna’s waist. The corners of her lips could not help but curve upwards at the comfortable and familiar weight of Laudna’s arm resting on her hips.
“What are you doing here? And the rest of the Hells too. Why are all of you…so glowy? Is this some kind of new magic trick you all learnt while I was gone?” Laudna asked, looking between her and the rest of the Hells in confusion.
“Oh, Laudna! So much have happened!” Fearne immediately answered, before quickly launching into a quick series of sentences, “So you know, we travelled through a really big tree to Whitestone. I think it might be your tree, like the tree we saw earlier on our way here, but WAY prettier. And then we met this man. He’s supposed to be like the Lord of Whitestone or something, but then he really has a stick up his ass and he refused to help you. But his wife was way nicer about it. Oh, she kinda looks like you. After that we met this kind gnome baker, her baking still needs a bit of work, but she the one who is helping us to bring you back. So we ended up here but we’re not really here here. These are just our souls. We had to come in our souls to separate yours from Delilah’s so that we can bring you back. Oh yea, and also, the baker’s going to help banish Delilah for good!”
Laudna stared blankly at Fearne and blinked a few times, before replying slowly, “Right…I see.” Imogen couldn’t help but let out a amused chuckle, as she reached up to smooth away the adorable crease between her dark brows with a thumb, reassuring her softly, “I know it’s a lot to take in, but I promise I’ll explain everything when you get back.”
“Mmhmm.” Laudna nodded distractedly and leaned back a little to give her a quick once-over.
“What?” She narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion at the coy smile playing at Laudna’s dark lips.
“You know I’ve always said you have a beautiful soul, Imogen.” The way Laudna breathed out her name in such a low, soft voice sent a shiver down her spine even in her astral form. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to use the pain to distract herself from the desire coiling low in her abdomen. Well it turned out that even if astral forms didn’t have tears, they could still have other urges. Her eyes continued to follow the movement of Laudna’s dark lips as they parted into a wide, impish grin. “And what a wonderful sight you are for sore eyes! Mine especially.” Laudna exclaimed gleefully, gesturing at her glowing astral form with a hand.
A tearful laugh escaped her throat and she rolled her eyes in exasperated fondness. “Oh gods, Laudna, stop it! Be serious here! We’re here to bring you back!” She slapped Laudna lightly on the arm, an indescribable joy blossoming within her. It was a type of joy she had not felt for the past eight days. The kind of joy that had been swallowed by the darkness of the pit of misery and pain that she had found herself in since that awful day in Bassurus. A pit that she didn’t think she would ever be able to climb out of, not without Laudna once again by her side.
When you call a spirit back to the body, you have to reach out to the spirit and be like “...Hey! come back!!” and then it's like “Okay!!”or like “No, I’m good.”
The words of Ms Trickfoot lingered in the back of her mind. “You’ll want to come back to…us, right?” she asked, her tone turning a little uncertain.
Laudna was gently running a hand through her hair, looking fascinated at how the glowing strands of hair flowed through her dark pale fingers. A soft smile came across her lips and she turned her attention back towards her, replying, “Of course, darling. I mean, it will be rude of me not to come back after all the trouble you all went to just to get to me.”
Besides, where else can I go, other than by your side? That is if you would still have me.
Of course, I would, Laudna! That shouldn't even be in doubt!
Then the matter is settled, isn't it?
She breathed out a sigh of relief as she reluctantly withdrew her hands from Laudna’s waist and slowly took a few steps back.
“Okay, then I’ll see you in a bit, alright?”
“Mmhmm.” Laudna nodded at her, the soft smile still on her face.
“Hey, Letters, could you, uh…send a message to Ms Trickfoot now?” She called out to FCG, still holding Laudna’s gaze, reluctant to tear her eyes away from her, afraid that she would disappear the moment she did so.
“Of course. Sending a message.” There was a slight humming sound before FCG replied cheerfully, “Message sent! Ms Trickfoot says she will be commencing the spell soon. And when it’s over, she will bring us back. Sans Laudna.”
There was a sudden flash of light next to them and she couldn’t help but turn to look at the wall where Delilah’s body was slumped up against. She raised a hand to shield her eyes against the brightness of the light. The glare of it made it difficult for her to discern much, but there seemed to be a portal slowly opening up near where Delilah’s body was lying. An invisible force started to drag the body along the ground towards the portal.
Hope you have a fun eternal stay in hell, bitch.
Out of spite, she sent one last telepathic message to the body being pulled towards the portal, on its way towards whatever special kind of hell bitches like Delilah went to.
Finally, the curse that Laudna had suffered for thirty years would be gone.
I've told you before, didn’t I?
Her eyes widened in horror as the cold, sinister voice whispered ominously at the back of her mind. She quickly whipped around and ran back towards Laudna. A pool of shadowy darkness had already gathered underneath her legs and it quickly slid its way up Laudna’s body, attempting to engulf her in it.
“Laudna!” Her hand immediately shot out and grabbed Laudna’s forearm, feeling long thin fingers clutch back at her in a death-like vice.
“Imogen?!” Laudna’s pupils widened in fear as she looked at the shadowy darkness all around her, rapidly swallowing her up.
“Hold on, Laudna! I will get you out of there!” She focused her mind on the swirl of darkness surrounding Laudna and the lightning streaks on her arms glowed brightly. Her mind tried to simultaneously shove both the darkness back and Laudna out towards her, in an attempt to separate them. But neither Laudna nor the darkness was budging.
The white portal flared up brightly and suddenly the invisible force from before increased in strength and began to rapidly pull the darkness, along with Laudna, towards it. Bending her knees and digging her heels into the ground, she tried her utmost to pull Laudna back towards her, her feet being dragged along, leaving behind deep tracks gouged in the soil.
If I have to go …
Amidst everything that was happening, she could hear Orym shouting, “LETTERS! Tell Ms Trickfoot to stop the spell at once! Ashton?!”
“Already on it!” A moment later, strong arm wrapped itself around her waist and a stone hand clasped tightly onto her arm, trying pull her out of the darkness.
I'll take her with me!
“NO!” She yelled out, tugging desperately against both then pull of darkness and the portal. The darkness surged forward, enveloping half of Laudna’s body in one go and eventually making its way up her own arm, coiling itself tightly around it. She could see the fear and realisation dawn on Laudna’s face. Laudna threw a quick glance at the portal rapidly approaching from behind her before looking back at her.
“Imogen, you have to let go!” Laudna pleaded with her.
“No!” Imogen gritted her teeth and tried to tighten her grip on Laudna. “I’m never letting you go again!” The pull from the portal increased and her hands slipped down Laudna’s arm until they were just clutching desperately at her wrist.
You'll be dragged in with me as well!
This time, the panicked plead rang out loud and clear in her mind
Then so be it! I will follow you to the depths of Hell if I need to!
She looked back up at Laudna with stubborn determination, only to find the panic and fear receding in Laudna, replaced with a sudden air of cold finality around her. Imogen faltered as the dread started to pool in her stomach.
I can't let you do that.
The long thin fingers which were previously holding tightly onto her arm started to loosen their grip.
"Laudna...what are you doing?!" Her eyes widened in alarm.
Another thin, cool hand then rested firmly on her hands and started to pry her fingers, one by one, off of her wrist.
No, stop, Laudna! Don't you leave me! Not again!
One of her hand slipped off. It swung backwards and she clenched her jaws, struggling to pull it back, trying to grasp at Laudna once more. But all the forces working against her, all the forces trying to pull them apart, were too strong for her.
She felt cold fingers pry another finger loose.
“No! Laudna, you don’t get to do this to me!” She screamed, a sudden, searing rage surging through her. She was not going to lose Laudna again, not after all that they had been through. Not after all that she had been through.
Four fingers remained hanging on precariously onto Laudna’s gaunt wrist.
“I’m sorry, Imogen. But I can’t allow you to follow me.”
Another finger.
No, please. I love you too much.
She begged, finally confessing to feelings she had buried deep inside her heart, in one last desperate attempt to change Laudna’s mind.
With one final pull, her remaining two fingers loosened their grip and her hand slipped off from Laudna’s wrist.
I love you too, my darling Imogen.
The familiar voice echoed in her head a final time before fading away and she watched the darkness completely swallow Laudna up as she got flung backwards, her hand still reaching out desperately for the woman she loved.
“LAUDNA!”
The world turned red.