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They all knew it could happen. That at any moment Laudna’s undead body could be overtaken by Delilah, that the friend they loved could be replaced by a woman set on destroying them. So as Bells Hells watched their friend transform, turning into a swirling form of dark black and purple energy, they knew what had to be done. It didn’t matter whose body she was in. Delilah Briarwood needed to be stopped.
The next few minutes passed in what felt like hours. Bells Hells traded blows with Delilah the best they could, slashing and burning and piercing the thin body of her pale host. They did it mercilessly, trying their best to forget what was at risk here. They could see her fighting through every so often. The darkness subsiding from her eyes, a scream of contempt, a subdued spell. As long as Laudna was in there, they stood a chance. But it was their third fight of the day. They were exhausted, running off of fumes. Orym fell first, victim to a sword as big as he was, conjured out of the air. With their fighter on the floor, the Hells held back nothing. Ashton pummeled Laudna with his hammer, breaking her shoulder. In a moment, she was herself again, her eyes filled with tears.
“Do what you have to do.” She pleaded, then in a moment Delilah was at the helm again, forcing Laudna’s mouth into a smile mirroring her own.
As the fight dragged on, they became more and more desperate. Dorian tried to heal Orym but found he could not, too exhausted to call forth the healing magic. They knew they were fucked. Their options were few and none of them good. Essek suggested they run, but within a moment the party was decided. Even as Delilah forced her puppet’s shattered face to smile, oozing ichor from every part of her broken body they were united. They were going to save Laudna or die trying.
In the end, it was Braius who took her down, a few swift hits with his flail just enough to knock his new acquaintance unconscious. He backed away as she fell to the ground and the shadowy figure of Delilah around her receded. It seemed that they had won, at least for now. With the danger passed, Ashton ran to their fallen comrade, pouring a healing potion into Orym’s mouth before collapsing themself. Fearne healed them quickly, Chetney coming down from where he had hid to survey the damages. Essek floated over to Dorian, asking to see the orb that had caused such a reaction from the now gone Delilah. It seemed like everything could be ok.
Imogen knew differently however. She stood away from the others, a yard away from the crumpled form of Laudna on the ground, just watching as the ichor flowed out of the body, steaming in the cold Eiselcross cave. She knew what had to be done. She and Laudna had discussed it many nights prior. Delilah had become too much of a threat. And Laudna didn’t want to live as a puppet anymore, she had wasted thirty years of her life in the control of another. All she wanted now was to be free.
Imogen walked over to her friend, still breathing though barely. She rolled her on to her back, lifting the bloodied and bruised head onto her lap. She gently pushed away a strand of hair, looking fondly at the woman she loved, hot tears streaming down her face. She closed her eyes and felt for the hilt of the dagger she kept strapped to her thigh, slowly wrapping her fingers around the cold metal. She pulled the weapon from its sheath, bringing it near Laudna’s throat, her gloved hand shaking in anguish. At some point, someone else must have noticed what she was doing, but their cries fell on deaf ears. Imogen leaned down close to her friend, her ragged breath steaming in the frigid air.
“You are my favorite” she whispered, kissing the pallid forehead of the love of her life, then she slit Laudna’s throat, ensuring that she would never have to be a puppet ever again.