7.11 - Expansion (Patreon)

7.11 - Expansion

Taylor

I wake up to a splitting headache… and an argument outside of my door. 

I groaned. The pain in my skull felt like someone was taking a jackhammer to my forehead.

“Hey you.”

I jumped, a startled yelp escaping me as the fireplace next to me talked, only to realize it wasn’t a fireplace but Karlach.

The fiery woman startled with a laugh at my scream, holding her hands out. “Woah, woah sorry, didn’t mean to scare you, love.” 

My heart was punching under my ribs, and seemingly trying to claw its way out of my throat all at once as I calmed down, flopping back onto the pillow. “Kar- Karlach!” I sat up all over again, nevermind that my vision swam with the sudden vertigo.

The last time I’d seen Karlach I was half sure she was dead, her face bashed into the rocky walls of the druid entrance.

“Easy, easy.” The woman offers a devil may care grin. As if everything was perfectly alright. “I’m alright see.”

I blink, staring at her, she does look alright but something is… off with the picture and it takes me far longer than it should to identify what.

“Your eye-” My fingers trail up, touching at my own eye as if to point out the incorrectness on her face.

“Pretty isn’t it?” Her smile widens. “Works like a charm. Better than the old one even.”

I blink, leaning forward to look at the eye of silver and gold. My hand reaches up to touch her before remembering that I can’t.

My attention is drawn to the voices outside. “What’s going on?” I ask.

I see her smile die, a cringe replacing it. “Well…”

Why is my headache already getting worse?

—

Sophia

“-something so reckless, so stupid after what happened already!”

Mullet sounds pissed. Frankly, Sophia isn’t much happier either. 

Everyone had woken up talking about some sort of ‘Dream figure’ that came to them in the night. Saying they would protect them and that they needed to harness the Tadpole’s power. 

Sophia hadn’t seen shit like that. Which just added to the impression of a mass Master effect, moreso because everyone had seen a different figure in their dreams.

Every. Single. MS screening alarm bell was blaring in her mind like a five alarm fire.

And then she woke up to the news that Emma had just gone and did it. Swallowed down two more tadpoles before anyone could stop her.

Mullet sounds pissed. Sophia is pissed, and the only thing stopping her from walking over and punching Emma across the face for being a fucking idiot is the knowledge that doing that against a potential Master effect is either pointless or counterproductive… but fucking hell if it isn’t tempting.

Shadowheart and Durge are hovering, Shadowheart examining with magic, Durge pacing, looking at Emma like a scientist looks at a lab rat.

“Well at least we know the figure was not lying. If these tadpoles can add to our strength and defenses I say we use them.”

Astarion’s words draw a scoff from Lae’zel. “Be a fool if you wish, but I do not trust this… hallucination. It is a Ghaik trick, nothing more!”

First time in a while the noseless wonder sounded like she had the brains in the group.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sophia caught sight of Madison, the two of them sharing a look that conveyed a… genuine mutual worry for the girl that was their friend and yet was so, so broken.

And then, Hebert walked out of that chamber.

Wyll is the first one who notices, straightening where he was leaning against the wall. “Tayl-”

The words die in his throat, everyone turns to look as Hebert marches across the room, her expression furious.

Sophia is pretty sure everyone’s too stupefied, or shocked, or confused, or all of the above to stop her as she grabs Emma’s collar-

And punches her clear across the face.

Sophia’s moving before she can stop herself, halfway there as Emma hits the floor, Taylor still grabbing her by the collar, bloodied knuckles shaking as Emma spits out blood. 

Mullet backpedals with a squawk  “Good heavens!” and Shadowheart loses her balance as Emma almost topples her over too in the fall.

“IF YOU GOT A FUCKING DEATH WISH! JUST ASK ME AND SAVE US ALL THE TROUBLE!”

Taylor’s voice is a howl, screeching, bouncing between the walls, teeth bared in a snarl and Sophia grabs hold of her by her own collar and yanks her off the red head, heaving her onto her feet and several steps away, “Back off!”

The words are reflex, instinct. She’s just as furious with Emma and had fantasized about doing the exact same thing. 

But Hebert rounds on her, and those green eyes are burning like flames, her face is a rictus of wrath and hate and when her hands hit Sophia’s forearms they hit with surprising force that make the Ward’s limbs sting with pain as she’s forced to let go.

“This is your fault.” Taylor hisses. “She’s a fucking nutjob because of the shit you put in her head!”

The words land, harder than the twiggy bitch’s fists would have.

There’s a finger snap, and a bolt of lightning cracks the air between them, so close Hebert actually yelps, the hairs on one side of her head standing on end as the bolt of lightning strikes the ground between their feet.

“Good to see you awake.” Durge drawls, occupying the space the two of them just backed away from with his body. His hands are behind his back, he himself looks bored. “Though it would have been preferable if Miss Barnes would have discussed things with us beforehand. I believe her… volunteering can prove valuable, at least in the short term to explore these potential psionic benefits.”

Sophia felt a cold in her stomach.

He couldn’t be more clear. Emma was a useful guinea pig.

“Shadowheart, Madison, if you would.” He gestured to Emma. “Heal her up. And… we’ll explore the psionics once she feels up to it, with Gale, Wyll and myself. Taylor-” He paused, looking at the still furious bug controller, Karlach now leaning on the dorway they’d entered the room from. “You should wash, clean yourself up. You’ll feel better. There’s a new change of clothes for you too.”

Taylor glared at him, then back to Emma. Her chest was heaving, her fury was still there and Sophia saw tears glimmering in her eyes. She couldn’t tell if they were born from fury or whatever else before she turned around and stalked away. Karlach following behind her.

“Confusing.” Lae’zel muttered once Taylor was out of earshot.

Madison came over, hands already glowing with healing, cupping Emma’s cheek.

Sophia looked, Emma’s expression was strange… she’d call it wistful.

She knelt at the red head’s side. “Hey.”

“Her voice makes Emma look, blinking slowly.

“Why’d you do it?” Sophia whispers.

One Tadpole could kill them. Its why they were stuck in this mess. Why on earth would anyone add two more?”

Emma’s expression goes from wistful, to sad. 

“One dream said to do it.” She answered. “The other said she’d be mad at me for it.” 

Emma shifts, hugging her knees close. “I’m glad… Glad that she’s mad.”

The words are a whisper, so soft Sophia barely hears them.

Sophia shares another look with Madison. 

“She’s a fucking nutjob because of the shit you put in her head!”

The memory feels like another blow and Sophia’s fingers clench into a fist, something uncomfortable beginning to squirm in her gut for the first time.

—

Taylor

I took a bath in the underground waterfall.

The water is hot.

It’s hot because Karlach is right next to me. 

If I could, I would kiss the fiery woman.

But I can’t, so instead I just sink into the waters, feeling the steam and the bubbling heat and I have a small parade of my bugs steal more of Astarion’s shampoo and drag it over to me because I am not getting out unless I absolutely have to.

I’m still angry; furious even. But one blissfully hot bath feels like its making everything in the world feel absolutely perfect and blissful.

I don’t know if it was because of my anger. I don’t know if its because everyone is busy, or maybe, just maybe they genuinely wanted me to relax after waking up from… How long was I even out?

Either way… its almost a full hour before someone is sent to get us.

That someone is Madison.

She looks supremely jealous when she realizes that, yes, I did have a hot bath. And it makes me smile nastily.

I’m not petty…

Madison turns around as we crawl out, Karlach wasn’t naked and neither was I. I have my bra and panties on and Karlach just went in with her clothes to lounge. I’m… pretty sure she recognized I wasn’t comfortable being naked around anyone and for that I’m grateful. But Madison still turns around to give some privacy, saying that Durge needs to talk to me.

She placed a drying cloth and… clothes. Silk clothes. Silk clothes exactly in my size.

“How’d you all get these?” I demand as I start putting them on. 

Madison jumps. “O-oh, some of the Tieflings. I’m pretty sure Durge made a deal, had them all sew the silk you made into clothes for us. Barcus enchanted them too before he headed out.” She looks to me as I’m halfway through putting on the ‘outer robe.’ “Tay… they are so fucking comfortable.” 

Her eyes are glimmering. She looks like she’s about ready to hug me.

I inch away, tying the sash around my waist. “You have one too?”

“We all do.” She answers. “Even Karlach, but she can’t wear it yet. I’m not wearing mine because I wanna save it for sleep.”

It… made sense. I’m conflicted, just a bit about providing the Trio with any of my silk, especially with Emma fucking eating tadpoles and getting on my last fucking nerve… but in the end… I’m not petty.

“It… fits.” I say, surprised as I tie the sash.. “It… fits almost perfectly.”

Not almost, it actually does fit perfectly. My robe is a very dark green, almost black without the light. There’s a little too much cloth, maybe I’ll bind it later somehow. But I still have plenty of freedom of movement in my legs and arms. I even have the option of eliminating the undershirt, to go sleeveless if I get rid of that layer. “Who took my measurements?”

Madison opens her mouth and closes it. “Umm…” She looks puzzled. “Wait…” She blinks. “Who took all of our measurements? Everyone’s clothes fit almost perfectly now that I think about it.”

I…

I shake my head. There are more important things to talk about. I start walking out of the cavern, Karlach following and Madison starting before she follows too.

“What’s happened since the battle?” I asked. “I’m assuming we won since we’re all alive.” I stopped mid stride. “And where’s Armsmaster? Is he dead!?”

Were we responsible for killing one of Bet’s best heroes? One of the only heroes left that could actually make a difference?

And- I started… “Where are my phase spiders?”

“Umm…” Madison looks sheepish. “Well…”

She explains…

She explains a lot.

It's a lot to take in.

I make my way to the basket. 

“This is fine.” I sigh. 

The eggs are quiet. All one hundred plus. Blissful and peaceful in their shells. 

“The big ones were unwieldy.” 

Phase spider eggs can last in stasis for decades. Held there in the event the queen needs replacements for the children guarding the nest. 

“I can use two, or four at a time. Much more manageable, and their size can make them suitable for much more subtle attacks. This is fine.”

“Tay…” Madison begins hesitantly. “Are you coping?”

“No.” I bite out. “I’m explaining the benefits of the current circumstance over the old.”

“It sounds like you’re coping.”

“...Shut up Madison.”

I’m not mullish… I’m not.

“Okay…”

I hatch two of my eggs.

They’re small. Large for earth spiders. Perhaps the size of a huntsman. But small compared to their now dead older siblings.

I set them on my shoulders.

I name them Hugin and Mugin. 

Madison giggles. Karlach just raises an eyebrow. 

—

“He’s in there?”

Durge nods.

The Tieflings are gone. But several Druids still stand guard over the vault door where Armsmaster is imprisoned.

“And you think I can… get rid of the mind control?” I asked. “Last time I even connected with him, I apparently started bleeding out of my brain and was knocked out for four days!”

Durge shrugged. “Say the word, and we do not do this.” He promised, staring at the door. “The only reason he lives is because I know you enough to know you do not want a Hero of your world dead.”

He was right. I didn’t.

Everyone heard the stories. Hero, Legend, Alexandria, Eidolon. The first generation. The Golden age.

But I wasn’t really ‘there’ for that. Sure, Alexandria was my favorite hero, and I wanted to be like her in so many ways. But for as long as I could remember Armsmaster was the hero of Brockton Bay. He was Hero. The Hero for my generation. For the people who’d never seen the golden age and never would. 

The thought of killing him… I was suddenly very grateful to Sophia for having stopped Halsin. 

But still I sighed, fingers rubbing at my head, the headache seemingly returning just with the barest hints of memory. “I don’t… I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.” I admitted. 

Durge knelt beside me, I was just tall enough that I could look down at him as he did.

He pulled out a strange, polyhedric thing, it looked like a strange puzzlebox. 

“This, we believe, will help.” He explained. “If you take hold of it, and connect with the tadpole, then, perhaps our immunity can extend to him.”

“And if it doesn’t?” I ask.

Durge looks at me. “Then I’m afraid its out of our hands.”

That… wasn’t reassuring.

It made sense. It did.

But… it wasn’t reassuring.

I sighed, and moved to step forward towards the room.

Durge stopped me. 

“No.” He shook his head with a sigh. “If we’re doing this, we’re doing this together, with the others. If something goes wrong, we’ll be as ready as we can be.”

I nodded, and felt relief. Not necessarily because everyone would be here, but because… it delayed the ‘sentencing’ so to speak.

Because I wasn’t at all confident I could save the man that didn’t deserve to die like this.

We turned around, Durge escorting me out of the vault and back towards the cavern that served as our ‘campsite’

Only we never made it.

Durge opened one of the stone doors-

And there, on the other side… was a man.

A man I’d never seen before.

Dressed in dark, black and red velvet.

He smiled. 

“Well, well” There was a chuckle in his voice and for all that he was smaller than Durge I got the impression he towered over the Dragonborn.

Durge stepped forward, subtly placing himself between me and the newcomer.

Then, I noticed something… Something that didn’t make sense.

Everything had stopped.

Every druid. Every animal. Every blade of grass outside.

Everything had come to a dead stop.

My hackles rose. My senses expanded.

When the man spoke, I heard his voice several times over, coming from different places.

Different places, where our friends were.

“A quaint little venue.” The man said in five different places, though five different mouths. “Perhaps, a light change in scenery is in order…” He smiled, hand rising, finger pads pressed together and-

SNAP

With a sound that seemed to bounce around my skull, suddenly we weren’t in the Grove.

We weren’t… anywhere that I recognized.

The others stumbled as they gained their bearings, Karlach drew her axe with a shout. “IT’S A DEVIL!” She accused. “WE’RE IN AVERNUS!”

Avernus… One of the layers of Hell!

I looked around, we were in a chamber, a dining hall, plates overflowing with food.

And not a single insect anywhere in my range.

I felt my heart begin to pound, weapons were drawn, my throat felt dry.

The mystery man held open his arms with a laugh.

“Welcome… To the House of Hope!” He declared. “And I am your host, Raphael.”

I looked around, I had to, trying to take in my surroundings in a place where I felt like I was suddenly blind, and deaf!

And I noticed something. Something that made a spike of worry punch through my chest.

“Where’s Sophia!?”

The others suddenly noticed after I said it.

Raphael brought one hand to his chin, cupping it. “Ahh yes, her. No need to worry. An interested party simply requested I arrange a… conversation.” He chuckled, something low and dark coming from his chest. “He was interrupted so very rudely from what I understand.”

The gleam in his eye made a shiver run up my spine.

I didn’t know one could feel cold in hell.

—

Sophia 

She didn’t have her bow. She didn’t have her arrows.

She drew her knife, and felt oily blackness coiling around her.

She breathed, her breath fogged in the air. It was freezing.

She saw something move along her periphery, her gaze snapped to it, body crouched low, defensive, knife firmly in her grasp. She forced herself to not shake, controlling her breathing, falling back on her training.

“Ahh yes. Training. It really is too bad you’re so eager to forget mine so quickly.”

She rounded, spinning around, her stance defensive.

She found… a wolf.

Or at least, it held the passing resemblance to something she’d call a wolf.

It was large, black furred.

But it had no face.

Only a leering, near bare skull staring back at her. Red pupils glinting out of the hollow sockets that should have housed eyes. 

Sophia shuddered, feeling those eyes cutting right through her.

“What the fuck…” She shook. She tried to stop. “Who are you?”

The Wolf seemed to humm, something guttural, and aggressive on its tongue. “That is a question… isn’t it? I had a name. I suppose to your kind it was given to me by… a father. It was taken too. Aberration. Obsolete. Defunct; They named me instead.”

It started to move, to circle her, she moved too, keeping it in front of her, eyes darting quickly, searching for an exit before returning to him, not daring to look away for more than an instant.

Because every instinct she had, that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, were screaming at her.

She is in danger.

“As such I have no name. Not properly. As you do. One given to you. But, I have chosen my own name. It suffices. Perhaps it encapsulates what I am, better than my given name ever did.”

“And what is it?” She deigned to ask. He was long winded but that was good. The longer he talked, the more chances that she could find an exit… or maybe Mullet could magic her ass out of here. Something had magicked her in here so stands to reason…

The Wolf thing sat back, its spine straight and its skull-like face fixed her with that same, unnerving stare that made her feel so very very small.

“You, mine Host… may call me Hatred.”