AN - Trying to get a buffer up again as MY GODDAMN HOUSE WENT UNCONDITIONAL (which apparently in adult-speak means the banks have stopped dicking us around and gave us full approval) which means I am going to be officially a home owner in the new year. This also means the updates may get a smidge sporadic between now and then while I pack my shit up between now and xmas. So here is a super fucking thick chapter for kicks.
Lightning flexed her fingers for what felt like the hundredth time, looking at her hands and trying to see if anything else had changed. Beyond her eyes, which were now fiery pools of red within endless black, the rest of her still looked human. She sighed as they made their way across the wastes, back in the direction of the city. Stuck somewhere between human, demon and demigod, only time would tell what she would become.
Fang's arm suddenly came into view, bringing her to a stop as the demon barred her path. Glancing up to see what the holdup was to find a figure up ahead, leaning against a rock as casual as anyone could be in a place like hell.
The brunette frowned as her eyes narrowed, then widened in recognition and a grin threatened to split her face. "Well if it isn't the damn Calvary." She said with a lazy wave. "Come to enact Pulse's judgement for Dis?"
"Hell no, girly... That's one fine mess I'm not the slightest bit interested in. I came to offer some... Friendly advice. That's all." The figure replied, moving forward off the rock and striding over to the trio. He was heavily armoured in hide and bone, with a large skull in the centre of his chest. His hair was the colour of the sky, a muted red that was tied back behind him. He wore a mask, covering half his withered face made from bone and gold, a gaudy material Lightning didn't expect to find down here. It was perfectly sculpted to mimic a human face, whether by nostalgia for what he once had or a mockery of the Sanctum was anyone's guess.
Fang met him halfway and clasped his wrist in greeting. "Gods above and below its good to see you. How fares the wastes?" she asked, grinning broadly. He shrugged and pulled her into a hug.
"Plentiful with bounty. Though you'd know that if you spent more time down here. I see the rumours about your... Fondness for the earthly realm ring true." He replied, unfurling and stretching large leather wings that were striped with ashen grey and black. The pinkette approached with Vanille, the younger demon running forward and leaping into the man's arms with a delighted squeal. He spun her around and wrapped his wings around them both with a contented sigh. "It's so good to see you unbound, little Dia. Regardless of the mess it's caused."
Fang turned and gestured towards the human. "Light, this is Rygdea Tas Rahab. Rahab, this is Lightning. If you're listening to rumours you know why we're here."
"Aye, I do," he replied, putting Vanille down gently and folding his tattered wings across his chest to look like a cape. "It's why I'm here. They've shut the gates of Dis in the wake of what you did in the Dynameis' Keep. Nobody is getting in or out."
The brunette sucked air through her teeth in a noise of frustration and growled at the city in the distance. "Shit. That means the direct access to the void is cut off."
Lightning moved closer and placed a hand on Fang's back, at the base of her wings. The demon had to stifle a shiver as her fingers brushed along the bone. "What does that mean? Is there any other way to access?" the pinkette asked, feeling a headache coming on. Fang nodded but her expression remained sour.
"Yeah. There is. The uh... Scenic route. Through the circles. A deliberate move, I'm sure."
Rahab folded his arms and hummed in contemplation. "I'd say you're right. A move to push your human friend here through the circles, corrupt her and get her off course. Though I admit she ain't looking very human at present..." He trailed off and Fang turned to follow his gaze. Lightning was rubbing her temples, trying to rid herself of the sudden pain gripping her head. Her eyes widened at the sight of fiery lines beginning to snake across the skin on her hands, looking like electricity moving along her body.
"Fang...?" she whimpered, dropping to her knees with a gasp of pain. The demon ran over to her and held her by the shoulders, watching with growing concern as the lines spread across her face. "What's... Happening..." her words, tainted in fear broke off in a pained groan and Fang ran her hands through the pink hair. Her fingers paused on two bumps either side of her scalp and she cursed under her breath. They were getting larger and more prominent, causing Lightning to cry out in agony as two horns burst from the skin, curving wickedly along the side of her skull.
"Etro, what in the Maker's name did you do to the human, Ragnarok?" The male demon asked hesitantly, peering over her shoulder.
"Nabaat made an appearance when we were freeing Vanille. Gutted Lightning with her blade. We either had to turn her or we both would have died. She... She asked us to do it."
Rahab swore and looked away while Fang held onto the human, who was looking far more like she was one of the locals.
"S... Sorry..." Lightning whispered, causing Fang to bark out a nervous laugh.
"Whaddya apologizing to me for?" The demon asked incredulously, taking the pale face in her hands. She was startled when the human leant forward and rest her forehead on her shoulder while trying to catch her breath.
"Didn't want to… Put you in this position…" She replied with a shaky breath, her hands reaching up to feel the horns now jutting out alongside either side of her head. She gave a choked laugh, looking up at Fang with teary eyes. "Do they… Look ok?"
The demon smiled sadly and stroked the side of her face gently. "They look beautiful, Sunshine."
Rygdea and Vanille watched the interaction while stealing glances at each other. He raised an eyebrow at them and shook his head. "By the Pit… It's like Pulse and Etro all over again." He muttered, with the smaller redhead humming in agreement. They waited until Lightning had regained composure and she stood slowly, holding onto Fang tightly for support. Rygdea cleared his throat to get some attention and nodded in the direction away from the city.
"I can take you through to the Hanging Edge. I don't know if I can go any further. Pulse and I had a… Disagreement recently, and I'd rather not get in his way anytime soon." He said hesitantly, turning to walk off across the plains. The others followed with Vanille skipping ahead to catch up with him.
"What did you do?" She asked from her place next to him. He ran a hand over one of his horns and sighed.
"Tried to get him to see reason, to release the human. To keep her there invites disaster. He welcomes it."
Lightning's head tilted up and she inhaled deeply, trying to rid the gnawing pain in her skull. So it would seem that there was dissension in the ranks, not everyone in Hell seeming to agree with what had happened.
"Don't get me wrong," Rygdea continued, "A lot of us would like to get out of here and do something different with our eternity, but to side with elements in the Sanctum that seek the undoing of reality? I'm not particularly ready to face oblivion myself."
Fang saw the quizzical look the human was giving him. She moved her head close to the pinkette and pressed her lips against her ear. "He's a pride demon," She whispered, "corrupts souls with offerings of strength, power, wisdom… Likes to mess with irony a lot. Wears the mask because he's a vain bugger."
"I heard that, Ragnarok, we don't all get to keep the pretty face like you do," he warned from his place up front, coming to a stop at a cliff ahead of them. It overlooked a massive river, dark grey water churning below that cut a path through the red wastes beyond the black sands. "We're going to have to cross the Charon. Though how is… Going to be the hard part. If they've shut the city down, they'll surely have barred passage across as well."
Fang cast her gaze along the riverbed below before breaking out into a slow smile. "Don't think that's going to be a problem Ryg. Come on." She took off at a jog, making her way down the twisted path for the others to follow. Lightning trailed at the back, taking her time as the headache subsided. Taking her gloves off and glancing down at the trails of fire along her hands, she had to swallow hard at the thought that even if she saved Serah, she'd likely never see her again.
Gritting her teeth, the pinkette picked up her pace to meet up with the others, as they moved towards a robed figure standing on the banks. The black hood was recognisable before she caught a glimpse of his face, and knew who would be beneath it when he turned. Though she wasn't prepared for the look of sympathy she received when he did.
"Lovely day for a stroll, wouldn't you say, Ferryman?" Rygdea called out with a salute as they approached. Sazh pursed his lips and said nothing, clearly not amused. He stepped forward and pointed his finger accusingly.
"When you mess up you sure as shit know how to not half-ass it, Fang." He growled, causing the brunette to slow in her steps with an outraged expression. He held up his hand, silencing any protest that was pending from her mouth and shook his head. "Every. Last. Dynameis. I meant for you to only release Hecatoncheir. Not all of them."
"That was my doing, not Fang's." Lightning spoke up, hanging her head to avoid his gaze. Sazh walked over and tilted her chin up with a skeletal hand, to look into her red-hued eyes. He clicked his tongue in frustration and sighed loudly.
"Never meant for this to be the path you took, human. But I know you, you'll do whatever it takes, even if it damns your soul for eternity in the process."
Lightning couldn't avoid the ironic smirk that overtook her, and she shrugged. "I don't know, I like to think the horns suit me." She joked, though was unable to hide the mild bitterness in her voice. "What brings you here anyway?"
"When I'd heard what had happened at Dis I knew that the boat would be anchored, with no way across. The other Dynameis have… Escaped. Those that weren't recaptured or killed have either escaped to the wastes or managed to gain the strength to open portals to the realm above."
Fang visibly winced and gave a nervous look towards Vanille. The release of all the Virtues was definitely something on the "risking the balance" checklist. Worst case scenario, they go to the surface, feed off the humans to regain their strength and the world behind the veil is forcibly revealed. Best case scenario they go to the surface, seek out any of the demigods like Lightning, unlock their shackled soul and forcibly reveal the world behind the veil. Either way, they were probably screwed should they get out of this in one piece.
That, however, was certainly a future problem. Right now they had to cross the river Charon. "So you came to help us then?" Fang asked. Sazh merely nodded and motioned for them to move down towards the docks.
"Considering what's at stake I'd be mad not to. No more staying out of the conflict for this old man."
The closer they got to the river, Lightning was able to see that the Archaron wasn't a river of water, but rather souls. Countless, wailing souls that had yet to be given a direction for their punishment. She held her breath and stepped onto the boardwalk made from bone. Sazh conjured a vessel with a wave of his hands, and an old, decrepit ferry rose from the depths of the river for them to board. It looked wooden, but considering the overall aesthetic of this place was likely made from the remains of whatever creatures once roamed these desolate land. They all stepped onto the boat and the death god pushed them from the docks and out into the open "water".
Fang moved back over towards the pinkette and placed a hand on her back. Her hand flinched when she felt the beginnings of two bony nubs positioned around the shoulder blades. She knew Lightning felt them too because of the immediate tension she could feel.
"Will they... Will they look ok?" The pinkette whispered, her voice strained. Fang merely nodded with a caring smile and slid her hand down around her waist.
"They will look amazing. No matter what, you'll always look amazing to me, Light."
Lightning looked up at Fang with tears in her eyes, before her gaze dropped to the brunette's lips. She leant forward, seeking the comfort and the demon had no issues granting that request. Before their lips brushed, a stray bone flew into Fang's head, causing her to reel back with a yelp.
"None of that on my ship, Ragnarok," Sazh warned, wagging his finger at the pair. "The last time anyone of your calibre did that the whole place went to hell. Literally." The demon scowled and tightened her hold on the human, who nuzzled into the crook of her neck. The horns made the movement an effort, but eventually found a position that was comfortable for both of them.
Vanille hummed to herself over by the bow of the ferry, her legs dangling over the edge. She wasn't expecting for this to be her first journey on return to the waking world but was happy to be reunited with her sister nonetheless. She could feel her strength returning tenfold while sitting on the edge of the vessel, scooping up the wayward souls from the murk below. Looking back over her shoulder to where her sibling was sitting down with the human, she couldn't help the smile on her features. It faded when she thought about what was going to be required to get to the Void.
"Hey, Sazh," The redhead started cautiously, knowing that everyone would be listening, "Is Lightning going to be ok going through the circles?"
The Ferryman scratched at his beard with a bony digit and grumbled. "Hard to say, I mean there's not much left to corrupt now, is there? UH. No offence." He added hastily, watching the darkening expression on Fang's face. She was obviously protective of her charge, that much was certain. "The circles will be a test of sanity, for anyone let alone the human. I'm here to help you all through it. That is, if you're all coming."
They all turned to Rygdea who was standing off to the side with his arms folded, overlooking the river. "This whole Sanctum thing is a mess. If there's a chance that they're fixing to end reality because they can't live without their precious Maker… Screw it. I'll deal with Pulse's wrath when I get there."
Lightning removed herself from her warm place by Fang's neck and stood up, walking over to Sazh. "So what exactly am I in for that's any worse than…" She trailed off and just gestured at herself, pointing at the horns on her head. The Death God frowned and looked into the void that was now her eyes.
"The Circles are a bastardisation of the Sanctum above. Nine Spheres of Heaven, nine Circles of Hell. We're already within the First, with the city of Dis and the Hanging Edge over the river Acheron. Below, are the realms of the Transgressions."
The pinkette swallowed hard and looked out over the river, seeing the banks on the other side. She knew that no amount of preparing was going to steel her for what was to come, so indulged in Fang lending her strength from the arm wrapped around her waist when the demon had approached to join them.
"You've got your usual sins that defy the Maker, because to have them means that you're not paying attention to him." Fang drawled with a roll of her eyes. "So of course the next rung down is for the terrible sin of lust. Followed by your gluttons, your greedy, your anger-driven… Then the Circle of heresy, your violent, your fraudulent and then the Void, where they send the most treacherous…" And the unspoken insinuation of where the younger Farron was being held.
"Each of these realms will seek to claim you. All of you. Especially now that Pulse knows of your intention to get to your sister and the lengths you're… Going to in order to achieve this." Sazh explained, manoeuvring the ferry to the side of the rock and bone dock on the other side of the Charon.
As the group departed the vessel and stepped onto the jagged pier, the boat vanished back into the river of souls. They stood on the precipice of the abyss. The descent into what was, in reality, the Maker's dungeon, his own private torture chamber of all those who dared to defy him. Lightning closed her eyes and focused on that armour from the children's story, holding onto it like a beacon of hope in this place of madness and despair. She opened her eyes with renewed determination. No matter what. "Serah, I'm coming for you." She whispered, nobody else catching the words. The pinkette stepped forward and pulled the sword from her back.
"Let's go."
The stone pathway deviated into the depths, the way lit with torches of a deep red fire. It bathed the cliff face in a bloody glow that reminded Lightning a little of the After Life bar they had been in earlier. They moved in silence, the only sounds were their own boots and the muffled screams of the tortured souls below.
Somewhere along the line, the sounds became more indistinguishable between pain and… Something else entirely. Fang grimaced and made a noise of discontent the further down the dark path they travelled.
"Etro's Gate… I've had hoped that the last time I came through here would have been the last…" She pointed at a structure in the distance surrounded by a vicious wind. "Shiva's domain, within the tower of Taejin lies the queen of the frost herself. We're going to have to go through it to get to the other side. Titan says they built it when they first were cast down here, trying to find an exit. It… Serves as the palace of the Ice Queen now."
Lightning shook her head at the irony that a Fal'Cie responsible for all things ice and cold would reside in the place where the lustful would be punished and suppressed the need to laugh. She was convinced that this place was already sending her mad anyway. Glancing over at the brunette, she felt that familiar burn of desire when they made eye contact, not dissimilar to when the demon was influencing her. The only difference this time, was that Fang felt it too.
The brunette shook the feelings off, turning her gaze away from Lightning and focused on the path ahead. The tumultuous winds battered against the tower, and now the sounds were unmistakable. Fang narrowed her eyes and glared at the statues carved from stone, twisted monuments to the indulgence of the flesh. Some lesser demons lounged over the effigies while others flew up and snatched souls from the sky to feast on. "Pulse be damned harpies..." she muttered, growling at some nearby.
"What's the matter, Fang? Not happy to be back in your realm with the other desire demons?" Rahab jeered, nudging her in the ribs with his elbow. He received a much harder one in his gut in response, knocking the wind out of him. Fang stormed ahead, feeling a tension in her abdomen the closer she got to the tower.
Massive stone gates stood in their way, engraved with all sorts of lewd motifs, a constant cruel reminder of what put the doomed souls there in the first place. "Well, that's... Just charming." Sazh commented, moving up next to the pinkette. "Hey, human. Do yourself a favour and... Keep your distance from Ragnarok, at least while we're going through here."
It took a few extra seconds of staring before the meaning sunk in. "Right. Temptation dialled up to eleven here I take it." She sighed, eyeing off the gates and feeling unsettled. "Surely I'm not going to feel… In a place like this?"
Sazh chuckled, the sound a little wistful and patted her shoulder. "You would be surprised what they can make you feel down here, Farron."
Fang unfolded her wings that had been tucked compactly around her and stretched them, the popping joints relieving some of the tension she felt. Drawing a gesture in the air, a glyph of fire rose from her fingers and pushed against the door, causing it to creak open. The hallway within was a sea of writhing bodies, both demonic and shade, with Shiva sitting at the helm of it all, relaxing on a throne.
The Fal'Cie looked up and crooked a finger at the demon, beckoning her forward. Fang inhaled and stepped forward, knowing the request was only a courtesy. The others followed warily, with Lightning tightening her grip on the blade. The Fal'Cie was impossibly tall, impossibly beautiful, with long blue-black hair that flower across her near-naked body like water. She towered over the group, the size of a house. Her long nails sharpened into needlepoints at the tips tapped on the armrest, mocking impatience.
Shiva stood and battered any of the attendants from her body, sauntering down the path towards them. She began to shrink to a more accommodating size, her hips swaying seductively as she approached. Fang clenched her jaw and refused to look at the others behind her as she knelt, head bowed in reverence.
"That's a good pet." Shiva purred, running her sharp nails through the dark hair. Small trails of blood crept down the demon's neck, where the Fal'Cie had drawn blood on her scalp. "It pleases me that you still know your place, even if you vanish from my halls for so long. I have missed you."
"We merely seek passage through the tower, nothing more," Fang replied through gritted teeth.
"Nothing more…?"
The demon looked back briefly at Lightning, apology written in her gaze. "Nothing more, mistress." She replied, her words broken in her throat.
"That's better. I hate to think you've forgotten your manners. I…" Shiva trailed off as her gaze was taken away from the demon. The human stalked towards them, standing beside Fang with a warning growl. The Fal'Cie raked her eyes over the half-demon form and purred in delight. "So this is one causing so much unrest in the realms? The one who has taken my precious Ragnarok from me?"
Lightning didn't respond to her barbs, keeping her face impassive. "You're one of the original creators. Why are you…"
"Making the most of my lot? Eternity is a long time to spend in a place like this. I send my demons out into the world above to make more souls for my palace, my tower of indulgence while the rest suffer in punishment for ignoring their precious Maker." She droned, spitting out the title like it was poison. Shiva held out her hands and snapped her fingers, sending ice walls careening through the hall, cutting the others off from Fang and Lightning. She bent down and gripped at the demon's jaw, pulling her gaze up to her.
"You have been busy, haven't you my pet? But you bit off far more than you can chew on this one. Didn't you?"
"… Yes…" Fang replied, wincing as nails dug into her skin, "Yes mistress…"
The Fal'Cie smiled and let her go, moving her gaze up to the pinkette, who was glaring at her intensely. "Fascinating. You seem to have quite the attachment to my favourite. Did she try to manipulate you? Stoke your desires and turn them into a raging inferno of want?" Though barely perceptible, Shiva caught the slightest eye twitch and smiled. "She did. Did you want to do the same to her? Turn the tables, as it were?"
Lightning heard a small whimper from her feet and glanced down to find Fang staring up at her, the need in her glazed eyes clearly evident. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore how the demon's chest heaved with every breath she took. She stepped out of Fang's reach when she felt the demon's leg slide up the inside of her thigh.
"See, Ragnarok may think she can deny her nature as a desire demon, but I know who she is. What she is."
"You wouldn't know the first thing about Fang." Lightning snapped, startling the Fal'Cie with her ferocity. "Oerba Yun Fang, get up. You don't kneel to things like her."
The demon grunted as the collar around her neck tightened, the first time she'd been reminded of its presence because of a command in a while. She staggered to her feet and heaved a sigh of relief as the tightness around her neck dissipated. She cast an uneasy glance at the pinkette, seeing the dilated pupils and nostrils twitching. The human was being just as affected by this place as she was.
"Impressive display. I think I like you. But you can't take what isn't yours."
"She is mine." Lightning growled, stepping forward aggressively. She felt her teeth sharpening in her head, canines jutting down in a savage snarl. Fang stared at the display, feeling smaller than ever. That she could even feel that way around the human was baffling to her, an ages-old being. A part of her was terrified of what was happening, but she couldn't deny the thrill that shot through her at Lightning's overprotective words.
"We'll see." Shiva hummed appreciatively and grinned salaciously.
She snapped her fingers again and the floor gave way, tumbling the duo into darkness. They landed with a hard thud onto the stone floor, barely illuminated by a scattering of sconces on the walls. Sounds of skittering and hissing came from the darkness around them, and they knew they weren't alone.
Fang crawled over to the human and took her head in her hands. "Light, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I think my pride is more hurt than my body." She replied, sitting up with a groan. Staring back up at the opening, Lightning shifted her shoulder blades, searching for wings that weren't there. "Suppose that was too much to ask for that we could fly out." She muttered, causing the demon next to her to chuckle.
"Come on. We've gotta take the stairs. No elevators in this tower, unfortunately." Fang joked, reaching out and pulling the human up. At their first touch when Lightning took her hand both gasped at the sensation of skin on skin. "Shit…" The demon whispered, suddenly fighting with herself to not pull the human into an embrace. From the look on Lightning's face, she was having the same struggles.
"Shiva planned this, didn't she?" The pinkette asked, receiving a stiff nod in response. They immediately let go of each other like they had touched fire and put some distance between them. Lightning swallowed hard and bit her lip, hissing as a sharp canine pierced the skin. "Ow. Forgot about those…"
"I dunno, I think they're pretty sexy. Gives you that whole deadly vibe and… Uh… Wow, that… I meant to keep that comment in my head." Fang stammered, going bright red. Lightning relished having the demon on the back foot and leant in closer.
"Maybe when we're out of here I can introduce them to you in a more intimate setting and- dammit we need to get the hell out of this tower." She grumbled, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Agreed."
The duo began to climb the stairs that wrapped around the tower interior, weapons drawn and being sure to keep their distance from each other. Even the lightest brushing of arms had them stumbling, fighting their own limbs to not take things further. "Goddess… To even feel this way in such a place…" Lightning muttered to herself, feeling flushed the further they climbed. "So what's Shiva's deal anyway?" She asked. Fang hummed at the question, with Lightning gesturing to the tower around them.
"Right. Uh, not all of them are as magnanimous as Titan, the old Mountain somehow managing to keep his wits despite being half buried in sand for eternity. Shiva lost out in a big way during the stand, according to him. He says she was a pacifist, didn't want anything to do with the war or any of Bhunivelze's bullshit." The demon explained, pausing to rest a moment. "She refused to choose a side, and the Maker threw her down here anyway."
"How did you come to… You know. Here?"
Fang chuckled, feeling a little nostalgic. "I wandered the wastes after the Fall, took no part in the squabbles for territory and vengeance. I was lost, broken and grieving for everything I'd lost like so many down here. I came upon the tower, and Shiva sleeping within. She was the first to show kindness in a place like Hell. Well, the closest thing that constitutes kindness here. She was the one to give me purpose, to learn how to hear the hearts and minds of humans and give them their desires."
A demon suddenly burst forth from a side corridor and attacked them, interrupting them. The creature was a strange parody of a human woman but twisted with disjointed legs and a scorpion tail that looked as deadly as the rest of the demon, with her claws outstretched with intent to kill. It slashed against Lightning's arm and cut deep, and the pinkette staggered backwards, the wound burning like acid against her skin. Fang snarled as the collar choked her and brought her lance forward, severing its head from its shoulders, sending it tumbling down into the darkness below. She kicked the corpse off the side of the stairs with a sneer. "Fucking succubi," she growled, content that there was one less in the world to deal with.
"So… That's the difference then… I remember you getting very insulted when I called you a succubus. You're definitely cuter." a pained voice croaked behind her. Fang spun to find Lightning leant against the wall, breathing heavily and clutching at her arm where it was cut. Fang rushed over and awkwardly hovered her hands over the wound, not wanting to touch her in case the tower was still getting to them. The blood was slowly turning from red to black as it dripped down her arm, and the skin was beginning to shift as well.
The human's forearms were being covered with a plated, fiery material that was eerily reminiscent of molten lava that had been crystalised. The gasp that tore from her throat drew Fang's gaze upwards, watching the pale woman's spine arch. The nubs on her back grew into small bones that jutted from her shoulder blades, a prelude to further changes to come.
"Light…" Fang said quietly, trying to stay as close as she could without skin contact. She wouldn't be given the option, as Lightning reached up and grabbed at the beaded necklace around her neck. She pulled the demon forward into a savagely hungry kiss, that set all desires on fire. A tail snaked around Fang and pulled her into the pinkette with a choke, barely having time to register that the newly appearing appendage belonged to the pinkette.
Cupping her face, Fang gripped at the small of the human's back with her free hand and mewled into her mouth. She'd never felt such drive before, in all the millennia she had been playing along with her role, never before had she herself desired, needed, craved someone like she did this pink-haired demigod.
Demigod… Not a demon… Which she was very rapidly becoming. She swore she heard Shiva laughing cruelly in her mind. Fang tried to pull back but Lightning simply tightened her grip and bit into her lower lip. Fang suddenly pushed her back and reeled away from her, spitting blood onto the ground. The last thing Lightning needed was to feed on a demon, then there would be no going back.
"Light… We gotta… We gotta get out of here. Or we're not going to free Serah."
Hearing her sister's name was the ice cold bucket of water to the face that the pinkette needed. She gasped, pressing against the wall like she was trying to melt into it, trying to clear all of the disruptive thoughts from her mind. "Etro I hate this place." She whispered, avoiding looking at Fang. Lightning nodded after a few minutes, indicating she had regained her composure. Most of it, anyway.
They continued on through the tower in silence, neither wanting to voice what had transpired. Lightning looked down at her hands, now a twisted red with savage claws. The demonic tail that now moved around behind her gave her a new centre of gravity to adjust to. She moved it into her field of vision, giggling a little at the strange sensation. Fang turned and arched an eyebrow at her, watching as the pinkette was amusing herself with her new appendage.
"When we have the time, once we get out of here… Remind me to show you how to… Hide that. You can revert to your human appearance, with a little bit of practice." Fang offered, watching the red-hued eyes drift up to meet her own. The demon gave a shy smile and coughed nervously, looking back in front of them.
"When we have time… Do you think we could pick up where we left off?" Came the mischievous response, causing Fang to trip on the stairs. Lightning's expression became more solemn as they neared the top, no other lesser demons willing to interfere with the two highly dangerous women on a warpath. "I'm… Really screwed here, aren't I? Thinking about… You, when I should be focused on Serah." She sighed, running a hand along one of the horns protruding from her skull. Fang frowned and chanced the contact, taking her hand and stroking it gently. It took every ounce of willpower not to give into the corruption of the place. She held the other hand firmly against the pinkette's chest to ensure she too kept her distance.
"No. Not screwed. If Vanille's strength has returned she should be able to finish what we started back in the city of Dis. I… Don't know if it will be enough, but maybe unlocking the rest of the dormant powers could negate the… What we had to do. We'll figure it out, I promise."
Lightning looked away, not willing to risk the eye contact in case she gave into her feelings again. The tail seemed to have other ideas; the tip of which slid up Fang's leg, startling the demon and causing her to yelp.
"For Etro's sake does this thing have a mind of its own?" Lightning complained, exasperated. It caused Fang to laugh, suddenly breaking through the fog of lust that had settled over her mind.
"At least it has good taste," she jibed, stepping out of its reach with a grin. There would be time for closeness and intimacy later. Right now there was a tower to finish climbing, and a Fal'Cie to smack in the face. The pinkette glared at the tall, ornate doors that barred their path ahead, making a guttural growl at the obstacle.
Fang shivered at the sound and leant in close. She couldn't help it. The demon knew that this place was getting to her, but then again so was the human regardless of the circle they found themselves in. Lightning turned her head and captured the brunette's lips, before breaking away panting. It was becoming second nature to be in the demon's presence, to be so possessive and desiring of her. Fang tried to follow, making whispered pleadings for the chance to touch her.
"Oerba Yun Fang, behave. I need to concentrate." Lightning said firmly, ignoring the desire lancing through her at the sight of Fang dropping to her knees with a whine in her throat. "We're getting out of here. Then we can talk about other… Things."
The pinkette felt the electricity before she saw it, leaping from her fingers towards the door. It lit up as it was scorched from the white lightning that aggressively broke apart the door. Pieces of stone went flying, as Fang got back up to her feet and followed the human back into the hall like a lost puppy.
"Well, they don't look like they've been getting fresh... But the human looks like hell. Heh. Get it? See... See what I did there?" Rygdea's voice called out from their place, bound in ice with only their heads visible. Shiva whirled around from her spot on her throne, outraged at the appearance of the two women she had cast into the base of the tower.
"Ragnarok, be a dear and incapacitate the human." The Fal'Cie hissed, clenching her fist in a choking gesture. While the demon grimaced and wavered she otherwise stood still, grateful for the presence of Lightning's newly acquired tail pressing against her lower back.
"I don't… Answer to you anymore… Shiva… I am bound. To Lightning."
"You are bound to oblivion then!"
The ice queen sent a frozen spike careening towards them that threatened to impale them against the wall. Both ducked out of the way with a roll, bringing their weapons out. The duo spared a knowing glance at each other before they sprinted in tandem towards the Fal'Cie. Shiva grew in size until her hand could have crushed them in one swoop. She brought it down, crashing into the stone floor as Lightning rolled out of the way. She swung it back and caught Fang in her stomach, sending her crashing into the wall.
"Why protect this human willingly, Ragnarok? She bound you. Took you from your purpose." Shiva asked, bringing forth an ice blade to protect against the flurry of attacks from the pinkette. The Fal'Cie was astonished at the speed and aggression from the human and had to steel her wits against the onslaught. Fang growled and let more of her demonic form show, extending claws and gnashing her teeth in anger.
"Because I don't want this purpose anymore! I didn't fight my way free from one master to wind up beholden to another!"
Shiva snarled and threw up an ice wall, blocking the human from them. She shot forward and picked up Fang by the throat, lifting her clear from the ground. "You were one of the few that gave my damnation meaning, Ragnarok." The Fal'Cie whispered, her voice sounding pained. "And for that, I am sorry." She threw Fang across the room before the demon could comprehend the words. She hit the ice with a thud and slid to the floor.
Lightning forced her way through the wall and sent a few bolts of electricity crackling along the floor. Shiva jumped back as the pinkette launched herself at her. The ice queen held her by the wrists, a deep cold settling in the human's limbs. "Good," The Fal'Cie whispered, staring into the void that was Lightning's eyes. "You might be strong enough to finally free me."
Fang's eyes narrowed as she sat up, trying to crawl her way to her feet. "Please Shiva, I beg of you, stop this! It doesn't have to end like this!" The demon pleaded, torn in her place of who to help. Shiva looked over at Fang with a sad smile and shook her head.
"My precious Ragnarok," she said quietly, "For us, this is the only way it can." The ice queen suddenly let go of the human's arms and lay her own limply by her sides.
"Lightning, don't!" Fang cried out, but it was too late. The pinkette was already in motion, plunging the blade into the Fal'Cie's stomach. Shiva dropped like a stone to the floor, her hair and limbs splaying out along with the blood leaving her system.
"Thank you… I never wanted any of this…" Shiva whispered with a pained rasp, tears crystallising to ice on her cheeks. She clawed weakly at the air with her dying breaths. It was no use, nothing would save her now.
Lightning felt a tug in her chest, an irresistible draw that had her reaching out towards the Fal'Cie, like she was trying to grasp something. An ice blue crystal was pulled from the old Creator's chest, and the pinkette caught it in a firm grip. It felt warm to the touch and was in the shape of a tear. Shiva's sorrow.
It suddenly shattered into mist in her hand and shot towards her, not unlike what happened with Odin's Eye. She inhaled instinctively, the mist filling her lungs and then exhaled an icy vapour.
"Goddess…" She whispered, watching the red plates on her arms began to crack and fall. With great relief, Lightning saw her gloved hands once again looking human. She found the overwhelming desires that sought to taint every thought diminishing, leaving a cool calm in its wake.
Fang cautiously approached the pinkette, staring in complete disbelief at what she was witnessing. She knelt to the ground and gave a pained glance at the fallen Fal'Cie. "Bloody hell… You… You're more than just a demigod. You're a damned God Killer."
"We need to keep moving." Lightning replied curtly, standing slowly and heading towards the exit. Wanting to keep as much distance between her and the demon as possible in case the residual nature of this place got to them again in front of the others. She also felt uneasy about what had transpired and didn't want to spend a second longer in the tower. The pinkette threw a bolt towards the ice keeping her companions bound and Vanille squealed as she fell to the ground. The freed trio dusted themselves off and chased after her.
That left Fang kneeling on the ground by Shiva, her hand on the Ice Queen's shoulder. As much as she raged against the Fal'Cie woman, she was a constant presence in her life for millennia, a twisted companion in a twisted world. And the pinkette had ended her because the stupid stubborn Queen didn't know when to stand down. A tear escaped her eye and she sniffed, rubbing its evidence from her face with her free hand. Even despite everything, Shiva was an old friend and a companion through the lonely eons in Pulse's Kingdom.
Fang knew she had to catch up with the others but for now… For now, she took the time to grieve for a mentoring presence, as she curled up next to the freezing body of Shiva and cried.