It had happened so fast. Too fast, they didn't know what hit them until they couldn't even so much as defend themselves. Bound and chained and locked in cages that were left on the backs of carriages being taken somewhere on the other side of Solstheim.
Skylar looked around her. What was left of those who had helped her were now wearing collars. They were not the people she had come to know over the months that she had spent in the Skaal Village. It was like they were driven mad. There was no sign of the people she had come to know, their eyes showed nothing but hate and anger… And bloodlust.
All she could do was curl into a little ball in the corner of her cage and wait for their captives to them to where ever it was that they were going. She couldn't help but keep thinking that she was being taken back to the Bandit's layer to live the life of a Werewolf slave. A prisoner that does everything that she was told. Everything.
She closed her eyes and whimpered, wishing that things were not like this.
One moment everything was great. Skylar even kept thinking that Skaal village would make a good home one day… However the blistering cold was something that slapped her back into her senses every time.
Skylar found out that the group of people that had found her out in the winter wilderness was actually a group of werewolves. Pure bloods, they had been working on hunting down the 'leech' who they discovered on their island. They had lived on that island for years. They basically claimed it as their homeland. They told Skylar of how they used to live in Skyrim but that place had become too dangerous for them to raise families. They became hunted by people. They couldn't even so much as go outside of their little villages to hunt for food without risk of being hunted by a hunter. It was too dangerous. Especially for the younger pups.
They even told her of how people went missing and had never been seen again. Skylar didn't have to guess that they were talking about the Bandits who captured werewolves and made them fight in arenas for money and entertainment, she didn't say anything because they wouldn't know about the arenas unless they themselves were captured. She thought that maybe them thinking that their loved ones were dead was the better way of thinking… She kept quiet and listened to their angry words about the leech on their island, as they did she hoped that they would never find Serana… These Werewolves would rip her apart before even one word was said. The fear of her love being harmed by these people was always on the back of her mind. She thought about it every minute of every single day that trickled by.
They said that the 'Leech' was trespassing and that was against their laws. They wanted this trespasser gone, and not only that, they wanted him dead. They said that his crimes reached further than they first anticipated. It turns out that Skylar's Collar was not the first one that they had seen. In fact lots of other wolves were bound by them. They had tried almost everything to get them off. But the only difference between Skylar and them was that Skylar still had control, and it was that reason alone why they didn't allow Skylar to leave their village. They wanted to figure out what was keeping Skylar from losing her sanity, they thought if they figured it out they could help the other wolves.
Truth be told Skylar felt as though she were a prisoner. She couldn't go anywhere without being watched by one of the villagers. They did treat her with kindness and they took care of her, they helped bring her back to heath too, so she didn't think it was fair that she would complain. When they found Skylar they thought that she was going to die. Skylar had caused herself to get a very bad fever. She should have died. But they saved her life. But despite all these kind deeds Skylar still felt as though she was being held captive in a huge cage that was Skaal village.
She would stare out the window and into the trees in the distance. One of the Villagers finally noticed this and realized that Skylar was just like any other Werewolf. She longed to be free. Her name was Fanari. She was the village's leader's daughter. She had tagged onto Skylar and helped the little Pup feel more at home. But it seemed as thought everything she did didn't work. But when she saw the chance she took it.
Fanari took Skylar out of the village and together they would hunt from time to time. But even so Skylar still felt like a prisoner. She couldn't go too far without someone beside her.
As long as Skylar had that Collar around her neck and she had control the Villagers didn't want her to go. They though she held the 'Cure' To the madness somewhere in her body.
All the other Werewolves who had the collars around their necks didn't have any control at all. They were feral. They would attack anyone who got close.
Skylar knew one little detail however… Where everyone else thought that the Werewolves with the collars around their necks were simply being driven mad by the collars… Skylar knew that it was not simply insanity, it was Harkon's orders. He wanted the Werewolves to hurt anyone who gets close to them. They were following orders. She could see it in their eyes. And now only that. She could feel the tug of what he wanted on her senses as well.
There were some days where Skylar couldn't even so much as move, all she could do was curl into a little ball in bed whimpering pathetically from sun up to sun down, waiting for whatever was hurting her to pass. And then there were other days where she craved violence. She wanted to attack anyone who got close to her. She wanted to hurt people. It was on these days Skylar stayed locked up in her room away from anyone. When they would come and check on her all she could do was yell at them to stay away from her. They listened, somehow always understanding.
Harkon wanted Skylar to attack, not only for the soul reason of hurting people, but because if Werewolves began to attack innocent people they would become the top hunted target known to man. If that happened Werewolves would be wiped off the face of the earth. There would be no hope after that at all. There would be no safe place. Not in Skyrim. Not in Solstheim. The same thing would happen in Solstheim that happened in Skyrim. People would realize that there were Werewolves, and they were hurting people. Thus they would kill them off. In Solstheim very few people knew of Werewolves, it was like they didn't even exist and that was how Skaal Village hoped things stayed. But slowly as the collars began popping up and Werewolves began randomly attacking people… Their safe little Village was no longer safe from people.
Harkon would use the Werewolves for as long as he could until he had an army back up, but once he no longer needed them he would allow them to die off.
The sheer thought sent chills up and down Skylar's spine.
She had to survive, they had to take down Harkon, they had to destroy that key… Until then she wouldn't be able to go near Serana.
The plan had been so fall proof. They found Harkon, they were going to take him down. Everything seemed like it was going to work.
Months had gone by, Skylar had stayed in Skaal village and it's villagers were surprised to see that Skylar had hung on for so long.
The day finally came when they were ready to go after Harkon.
But the plan failed before it even started.
They didn't see it coming.
The night before the big plan they were attacked. Skaal village was burned to the ground and it's villagers were either captured, killed, or turned into vampires by Harkon's small army. And not only was he slowly building a small army of vampires he also had Werebears at his disposal. The Werebears were what tilted the scale in Harkon's favor. Without them he would have failed.
If the villagers were Werewolves they were killed or collared, if they were human they were turned or killed. Everything turned to hell in a blink of an eye.
If people tried to fight. The Werebears were sent in to purge.
Skylar had been taken away in a cage along with many other Werewolves.
Almost everyone in the village was either killed or captured, there were a few that were lucky and managed to run before everything went to hell but Skylar knew better, there was very little chance of survival out in the cold wilderness. They would need a miracle.
Frustration seemed to build up within Skylar and she couldn't stop herself from slamming her hands against the bars of the cage that kept her from her freedom. Surprisingly she was able to make dents and deform both of the bars. As soon as that happened she felt a little glimmer of hop build up inside of her and was about to hit the bars again, that was until she felt the world's worst pain pulse through her skull.
With a scream of agony and with her hands gripping her own skull she fell back and onto the floor of the cage where she curled into a little whimpering ball. She could hear the laughing of the vampires who was walking alongside the cage and it was then she realized… Things were exactly like they were before. When she was captive by the bandits. The collar kept her in line, she couldn't escape as long as it was around her neck. Things were looking really bad right then and there.
The pain eventually went away and she simply laid there staring out the bars of the cage, waiting for her fate.
She kept the image of Serana's face in her mind.
There was something she hadn't told anyone. During the time she had that collar around her neck something seemed to keep happening. Her mind started to play tricks on her. She began to forget things. One morning about a week after she woke up in Skaal she realized that she didn't know her own name. Of course a little later on it came back to her and everyone just thought that maybe she was still recovering from her illness she had suffered. But Skylar knew it was the collar. It was trying to suck the free will out of her.
To Skylar, if she forgot her name and the ones she loved she no longer had her free will.
She made sure that she had Serana on her mind almost all the time. She could manage if she forgot her name, she could survive if she forgot out to hunt, but if she forgot her love's face all was lost.
And so that was what she clung to as the carriage rolled up to the entrance of a very large cave.
Serana's name was on her lips and her face was on her mind as the cage door was pulled open and Skylar was dragged out and bound with chains.
"Someone wants to meet you." A Vampire said with a sick grin on his face as he pulled Skylar along.
Skylar was barely paying attention. It was like she was only partially attached to reality. The will of that cursed collar was pulling at her mind again…. It was only a matter of time. She could feel it. She was craving the hunt. She was craving the satisfaction of a good kill.
It was the echo of a iron door slamming shut that scared her back into reality.
Skylar looked around the room with frantic wide eyes, wondering where she was. But when her eyes fell upon a familiar face she couldn't stop herself from growling and lunging forward in a desperate attempt to attack.
There on the far side of the room on a stone throne sat Harkon with a very pleased look on his face. "I see we have some company…" His voice was a low chuckle as he watched as the chains that kept Skylar bound stopped her dead in her tracks. There was one connected to the pack of her collar that caused her to gag from the force of her own lunge.
She fell to her knees, trying to remember how to breath, it was only then she realized that both of her wrists were bound by chains as well. The Vampires made sure to keep her as limited with her movement as possible. The only thing that Skylar could really do was growl and pull at the chains before she remembered how to actually speak.
"BASTARD!" She spat as she gave another tug at her chains, in hopes that in some small chance that they would break and she would be able to fly across the room wrap her small hands around Harkon's neck and squeeze the undead life from his cold monstrous body.
Harkon's smile only grew as he lifted a pale hand and snapped his fingers.
Almost instantly Skylar was on the ground gripping her head like she had done in the cage.
"Temper… Temper…" He chuckled as he stood from his stone throne. "A temper like the one you possess will only bring you pain and suffering." Harkon said as he slowly bad his way across the room. Every step he took was precise and planned. He was graceful and yet monstrous all at the same time.
Skylar watched from where she was laying on the floor. Her eyes didn't show anger anymore, only fear was present now. Something was very wrong. Why couldn't she move? What was going on?
She tried to speak but only a small whimper in the form of a shaky breath slipped out of her lips as she watched as the Vampire lord made his way to her.
"You… And I are going to be the best of friends… Don't you think?" He asked as he rubbed the dark stubble that was on his chin with a icy hand of his.
Skylar's brow furrowed as she watched him.
"You know… I think we would be able to have a proper conversation if you would just stand… So… Would you please do so?" He asked as he snapped his fingers once again.
As soon as he snapped his Fingers Skylar obeyed.
She pushed herself to her feet despite the pain that was still pulsing through her skull. When she was standing and looking up at the Vampire lord who stood before her she felt her heart nearly stop dead within her chest from the realization that slapped her in the face.
"Now she understands the position she is in doesn't she?" Harkon laughed as he crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to the side. "The little Pup has to obey her master's every order now… So she should lean some respect before her attitude earns her a punishment she would never… EVER forget." He gave her a crooked grin as he reached out and took Skylar's chin in his hand.
As soon as his cold icy fingers came in contact with her skin the feeling of disgust invaded her senses. She didn't want this man anywhere near her, let along touching her! The fury was back in her eyes as she stared up at him silently, waiting to see what exactly he was going to do next.
"You may speak… But watch your tongue, I am your master now and what I say goes… So…" He took a step back and placed his hands on his hips with a satisfied look on his face. "Do you have anything you would like to say?" He asked curiously.
Skylar gave a rough shake of her head to try and throw off the lingering coldness of his touch that remained on her chin. She lifted her hand and listened to the sound of the chains clinking as she rubbed her hand where his had been. "Anything I would like to say?" She repeated his question. "Trust me… You would not ever want to hear what I have to say to you, the things that are on my mind right now are enough to burn the innocence of a thousand children… You filthy LEECH!" She spat as her face twisted into one of sheer hatred. "I will find a way to break free and when I do I will rip you limb from limb and I will make you beg for DEATH! The things you have done! You don't deserve to walk amongst the living!" She hissed as she tried to lunge forward again.
The instant she took a single step the pain was back, but this time it was at least ten times worse.
She crumbled to the floor with her head in her hands trying so hard not to scream in agony. She didn't want to give the monster who stood in front of her the satisfaction of hearing the screams that were caused by the pain that Harkon himself was inflicting on her. No, she would never be able to live it down, and something told her that Harkon would just love to see Skylar wither in pain and then try to make things worse for her.
Harkon knelt down in front of Skylar and in one very quick smooth motion his hand was around her neck and he stood up, holding Skylar up in the air off the floor, cutting off her air supply.
"Let's make something clear… Shall we?" His voice was very calm but haunting at the exact same time. "You are in my domain now… My daughter my have my castle, but this island is… Or at least WILL be mine and you are going to help me get it. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" His grip increased ever so slightly causing Skylar to whimper. Her hands flew up and gripped the wrist of the hand that kept her up in the air. She needed to breath!
"You are now nothing more than a pet, do you understand me? A pet! A mutt! A dog! A pathetic being who I could kill in an instant, I could squeeze a little more and snap your neck right here and right now and that would be it for you, no more life! So right now by me keeping you alive I am giving you the kindness in my heart and allowing your heart to keep beating." He looked down at the nails of his free hand as he continued on. "You can die so easily and I can make it so… But I won't." He released her throat and allowed Skylar to fall to the floor, coughing and wheezing for air. "I do not know what my daughter sees in you but as of right now you are no longer her's… You are mine, you are MY pet and you will do as I tell you, do you understand… PET!?"
Harkon's leg flew out and connected with Skylar's abdomen, sending her back against the wall where her body left cracks before she was back on the floor in a daze.
But she was still conscious and she could still hear every word that was said to her, every single word he spoke was like it was engraved with a chisel on the inside of her skull, words that she would never forget, or at least he would never let her forget.
"Soon… My daughter, Serana will be on her way here." Harkon began as he paced back and forth. If Skylar didn't know any better… The look on his face actually looked… Nervous? He was scared of his daughter.
Skylar allowed her face to fall so she was looking at the floor, hiding the smirk that was on her lips. 'Good…' She thought. 'I hope you fear her, I hope she makes you cringe…' She looked back up in time to see him turn to her.
"When Serana comes.. And I know it will only be a matter of time… It won't be I who she is greeted by." He said as he knelt down in front of her. He took Skylar's Chin in his fingers once more and the sick look on his face was back… And something about it made chills run up and down Skylar's spin. She wanted to pull away but what he said next froze her on the spot with shock. "She will be greeted by you…"
Harkon stood and laughed at the look that was now on Skylar's face. "Serana… My dearest daughter… Has been looking for you from the moment you ran away from her, you left her alone in the cold after she opened up her heart to you… How… Delicious." He chuckled. "How much time do you think has gone by? Days? Weeks?... Months?" He asked with a shrug.
That was something Skylar couldn't answer… The entire time she spent in the Village of Skaal she would lose track of time and sometimes she would black out for days at a time. No one bothered to tell her exactly how many days went by. At first they did. But then they stopped.. Skylar knew it was because they didn't want to worry her. But that worry was always in the back of her mind whispering in her ear. Every time she would ask they would divert her attention to something else.
"It's been a year Skylar, an entire year where Serana has been looking for you." He laughed.
"What…?" Skylar breathed with wide eyes.
"A year… She thinks you are dead now and blames me, she found traces of your blood in the snow long ago and when she couldn't find you she snapped like a twig… She hunts me for revenge because hate is all that is left in her heart. And the moment she sees you will be the perfect time to strike, and you will be the one who holds the blade that will sink into her heart. The hope and relief and the love she will feel for you when she sees you will be pieced by the same silver that will brand you in just a few moments." Harkon sat back down on his stone throne where he crossed one leg over the other and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. "You will kill the love of your life and then after that you will not know death… You will walk the earth alone and… Be Mine, knowing only obedience." He smirked, still watching the look on Skylar's face. "How… Dramatic… Poetic… Perhaps.. I will write about this one day and become known for the story of how a lover betrayed the one who devoted her life to her but in the end was killed by that devotion."
Skylar was shaking from where she was kneeling on the ground. There were fresh tears streaming down her face. She had no clue that a year had gone by, if she had known she would have ran away from the village to find Serana. She couldn't even begin to imagine the kind of agony she, herself had put Serana through.
She remembered a night that they had spent together, simply looking at the stars and Serana telling her stories form long ago, and she even told Skylar about a few things from her childhood, like how she loved to explore. And It was that night she had turned to Skylar and told her that she felt like Skylar brought her back to life. It was that moment Skylar knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her. But now…
"No… You can't do this." Was all Skylar could say. "Harkon… You can't… Serana will figure it out!" Skylar hissed as she pushed herself to her feet. The chains kept her from actually getting near Harkon but that didn't stop her from trying. "I will kill you, I will kill you!" Her voice was breathless and desperate. She needed to stop this before Serana came to find her.
Harkon leaned forward in his chair. "What? Do you think Serana will figure out that you have been alive this whole time? Serana gave up hope of seeing you alive a long time ago, she thinks that she will find what remains of your body here… She won't figure anything out, her judgment is clouded by hate and anger… In fact…" He sat back in his throne and sighed with a smile on his face. "She is on her way right now… I give her a week before she gets here… And when she does… It shall be glorious!" His laughter filled the room and haunted Skylar's ears.
Skylar heard the door reopen and the chains that were around her wrists and neck began to be pulled, she was pulled out of the room and taken to be branded for the second time in her life.
But this time the sting of the white hot silver blade being dragged over her skin was nowhere near as painful as what was going to happen. She had to stop it… But she didn't know how she was going to do that…
When Skylar was left alone in a cage she hung her head and wept. There was just so much to process and knowing that she was going to be what kills Serana… It was too much. Part of her wished she would go insane like the other werewolves… But that was something Harkon wouldn't allow. He wanted Skylar to be fully aware of exactly what she was going to do to Serana… And what Harkon was going to do to Skylar.
Eleven months and twenty three days. That was how long Serana had been without the love of her life. Nearly an entire year. Nearly a year when Skylar ran off on her own, nearly a year ago when Serana found traces of Skylar's blood in the snow. And then it was a few months after that when she lost all hope. It seems like time kills everything. She knew that she shouldn't have given up so easily but knowing that Harkon was out there and Skylar in the state she had been in… Harkon would have taken advantage of it and struck while Skylar was at her weakest. The only thing that was keeping Serana going was the longing to see her Father dead at her feet. She wanted revenge, she needed to avenge Skylar. She couldn't let Skylar's memory die off just like that.
Serana felt as though she was alone in the world now.
The Vampire hunters were there ready to help her hunt down Harkon, and that was what they did. They were so close. They had his location pin pointed to a T on a map. But it had been so many times where they had been in this same position. Where they thought that they had found him but when they went in for the kill… They had been wrong. It was like it was a game Harkon was playing. He knew how to make it look like he was somewhere when he was not.
He would always leave them a group of his minions that would greet them with fangs and claws.
But he was never there.
But what always got to Serana…
Whenever they had gone to a location Skylar's scent had always been there. It was as if her blood had been there… And it was.
Serana would find a small hand print stained in blood on a wall or little dried drops on the floor, it was like Skylar had been there long ago, wounded, hurt, trying to escape some horrible fate… Or suffering it, suffering it right were Serana had been standing, Serana had been too late every single time.
Every time they found traces of Skylar it made Serana break a little bit more because the poor woman felt as though she had failed Skylar every time. But she kept pressing forward. She needed to see her father fall before she would allow herself to rest.
Serana had made Skylar a promise long ago where she had promised Skylar that she wouldn't ever allow anyone to hurt her ever again… She broke that promise… She broke it.
Something deep inside her told her that this time was going to be different. This time for sure. He was there, she could feel it. They were just hours away now. Meer hours… He was not going to get away this time. Not this time. She was going to make him beg for death. She was going to make him hurt, like he had made Serana hurt, like he had made Skylar hurt.
Just knowing the kind of pain that her father might had inflicted on Skylar was enough to drive Serana insane with Anger. She needed… To see him suffer.
"This is it." Isran said as they approached the entrance to a cave. This one was definitely different from the rest.
It was heavily guarded and shut tight with iron gates.
"Yes… This is it." Serana agreed as she stood beside the man who had surprisingly became one of her closest companions in the duration of the year. "He's in there… I can smell him." Serana's eyes darkene and she clenched her fists. And like every time before she could also smell Skylar. She wondered what they would find this time. More blood? Torn clothing… Her body?
Part of Serana wished that they would find her body, that way she could put her lover to rest and maybe Serana would be able to finally have some closure… But first thing was first… They had to be rid of Harkon. He had lived for far too long. His time has come.
Serana stared at the entrance of the cave that was only a short distance away from where she was standing as Isran turned around and began to yell orders at his men. They had a small army with them, to Serana that was more than enough because she was certain that she herself was going to lose it and be the one to do most of the killing. She wanted to make sure that not one single vampire that belonged to her father lived. In Skylar's name she wanted to make sure every trace of Harkon was wiped off the face of the earth.
"For Skylar!" Isran yelled.
"For Skylar." Serana whispered to herself before they charged.
The vampires who guarded the front entrance were easy enough to be rid of. But when Werewolves came pouring out of the cave they knew that they had their hands full. And it was also when they saw the Werewolves did they know that they finally had the right location.
Serana shot a icespike at a Werewolf who was charging in her direction. When it fell lifeless to the ground she saw a collar around it's neck. There was an instant were she felt like her heart broke for the millionth time within that year. "For Skylar…" She whispered again.
She turned her head and saw that Isran's men had their hands full with the Wolves. It was plain to see that they didn't want to harm them. When they saw the collars they knew exactly what was going on. They were not attacking because they wanted to, they didn't have free will. Harkon was ordering them to…
"SERANA!" Isran screamed as he somehow managed to tackle a particularly large Werewolf and pin it to the ground. "GO GET THE KEY AND BREAK THE DAMN THING BEFORE WE HAVE TO START PUTTING SOME OF THESE FLEA BAGS DOWN!" That was the plan.
Serana get to Harkon, kill him, break the key, free the werewolves with as few casualties as possible.
"With pleasure." Serana grumbled as she began to make her way into the cave.
Surprisingly no other Werewolves attacked her. Instead it was as if they were stepping aside and allowing her to pass. She didn't run, she walked with long angry steps. Her face was blank and her hood was up, but her red eyes could be seen glowing through the shadow that was over her face.
"I'm going to kill him…" She whispered to herself.
The cave was much larger than Serana had thought it would be. In fact the inside of the cave was much like… A hidden city. It was amazing.
She didn't have to look around to know exactly where it was she had to go. There was a very large structure at the end of the cave… It almost looked like a very pointy looking castle.
"Leave it to my father to be the one to take the biggest shelter." She whispered to herself as she continued on her way.
Her hands were glowing, ready to throw icespkes at anything that might pop out at her. She was not going to allow herself to die… Not until Harkon died first.
There was nothing but dead silence as Serana stood in front of the massive doors that stood between her and her father. She could smell him. He was in there. Waiting for her.
She didn't allow any more time to pass as she placed her hands on the massive thick doors and gave them a mighty push, instantly opening them and sending them flying into the walls.
Serana stormed through the entrance but she stopped dead in her tracks when her eyes fell upon a familiar face that was standing in the middle of a foyer with a very troubled look on her face.
"Skylar... Is that… is that really you?" Serana felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders as she stumbled forward with her hand reaching towards the love of her life.
"N-No!" Was the first thing that escaped Skylar's lips.
Even then she was still hanging onto her sanity. She couldn't allow for this to happen… But at the same time her control was dwindling by a single thread.
"Serana… Don't…" Skylar stumbled back, putting as much distance between herself and her lover as possible. "Stay… Stay away." Skylar begged, hugging herself. "Please…." There were tears in her eyes but she couldn't let them fall.
Serana flinched for the first time in so long. "Skylar… Please…" She took a step forward but Skylar only took another one back, begging for Serana to stay away. "What has he done to you?" Serana's words were desperate and full of worry. She could see that the collar was still around Skylar's neck but the state the girl was in was something Serana had never seen before. What had he done to her, Skylar looked so unhealthy, so frantic, so scared, to horribly scarred for life… But she was alive. Skylar was alive and all Serana wanted to do was gather the smaller girl up in her arms and cradle her and take all the hurts away. "It's going to be ok now, Skylar… Isran is here too… We are going to take you home ok? And I promise you I am getting that collar off you, today." Serana said in a firm voice.
But Skylar shook her head before she gripped it with her hands. "No! JUST GO AWAY!" Skylar screamed. She had to get Serana to get away from her, she needed for Serana to turn around and walk away and never come back, that way the woman would be safe and the fate that Skylar was fearing so much wouldn't come true.
"Skylar… Please." Serana tried again but Skylar only snapped.
"I SAID GO AWAY! CAN'T YOU SEE YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE!" Skylar's words were so forced that it hurt. The weight of a silver dagger felt like a ton. She had it hidden in her belt… And it was that blade that she was craving to hurt Serana with. There was no way she was going to let it happen. Even if she had to make Serana think that… "CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!" Skylar screamed. The words were empty but that didn't stop them from causing Serana's face to look completely heartbroken.
Serana actually stopped dead in her tracks as she heard those words. "Skylar…" But seconds later she recovered. She knew it was the collar. She had to get it off. "Where is Harkon, Skylar, Where is my father?" She asked.
"No… You need to leave…" Was all Skylar would say now. She turned around so that her back was facing Serana as she hugged herself. "Just go… Please… Things… Things need to be this way…" She whispered as her body shook. She was fighting so hard to stay in control.
Serana thought about her words for a few moments before she began to move forward towards the girl. "Skylar… It's been a year… A YEAR!... I am not leaving you here… Not with him… Nothing you can say right now will make me leave…" Serana's voice broke and Skylar visually flinched as she listened. "I thought you were dead…" It was a whisper. Tears spilled out of the Vampires eyes as she reached forward and placed her hands against Skylar's back. As soon as her hand made contact Skylar flinched away as if she had been burned.
"Skylar… Please… Just talk to me." Serana whispered as she reached forward and grabbed Skylar and spun her around so that she was looking her in the eyes. She gripped Skylar's upper arms firmly and gave her a rough shake. "PLEASE!"
Skylar was quiet as she looked away. She closed her eyes and refused to look at Serana. "I'm sorry…" Skylar's voice was a little sob.
There was a moment before Serana finally pulled Skylar in for a fierce hug.
And that was all Skylar needed to know that she had lost… Skylar sobbed and begged for Serana to let her go as she reached into her belt for the dagger. She drew her arm back still begging her to let her go. Serana was not paying attention, she didn't know what kind of danger she was in… Skylar was going to kill her, and because of Harkon's orders she couldn't even tell her.
She closed her eyes and screamed as she lunched the blade… But it didn't meet it's mark.
Instead a strong hand grabbed the back of Skylar's shirt and threw her across the room.
The dagger went one way as Skylar went the other, leaving Serana standing there with a very shocked look on her face.
"GET AWAY FROM HER, SERANA!" It was Isran.
He had is hammer drawn and had a serious look on his face. He was facing Skylar as if he was going to attack the small girl.
"Isran… WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Serana spat.
"SHE WAS GOING TO STAB YOU! DIDN'T YOU SEE HER!?" He yelled as he pointed at the silver dagger that had been thrown to the side.
"What…?" Serana whispered.
"Harkon must have a hold on her, just like all the other Werewolves… Go find Harkon, finish this… I will keep her distracted." He promised Serana.
"But…" Serana shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she watched as Skylar shakily pushed herself back up onto her feet. That was why Skylar was begging for her to leave… Why didn't she listen to her…?
"You all need to leave…" Skylar's voice was hallow and lifeless. Her eyes were hallow and exhausted. Every part of her looked as though there was no life left.
"We're not leaving." Isran's deep voice replied.
There was a change in atmosphere before Werewolves filled the room. Harkon had given new orders… He wanted Skyar to come to him…
So when Isran and Serana were overrun with other Werewolves… They didn't see Skylar run through the room and down a hall, straight to Harkon's hands.
"Ah… There you are my pet…" Harkon greeted with a smile as the doors slammed shut behind Skylar after she entered the room.
"Your plan failed Harkon, they are going to kill you." Skylar said with a little hopeful smile on her lips.
"Oh on the contrary my deer pup." He said with a smile. "Can't you see that many have already tried?" He said as he pointed to the far side of the room.
Skylar looked to where he was pointing and found many bodies of Dawnguard soldiers. Her eyes went wide. "No…" She whispered.
They must had run ahead of the other's, thinking they could sneak up on Harkon… But instead they only made things worse. He had fed on them. "They gave me the extra boost I needed… I am stronger than ever with their blood in my system… But I realized… Why not one more…"
Harkon lunged.
Skylar didn't know what was going on until she was pinned down onto a table, Harkon's hands on her neck. With one smooth motion the collar was torn off her neck and for the first time in so long Skylar felt like she had just taken a breath of fresh air, but at the same time… It felt like her mind had shattered.
She screamed.
Her mind was all a blur…
Harkon turned Skylar's head to the side and saw the faint scars from where his daughter had marked Skylar for her own. Seeing the marks made Harkon feel sick. It was disgusting. A vampire and a werewolf… Mates… "From this moment on…. You are no longer her's…." And with that said he lowered his head and brought his lips to Skylar's neck.
Skylar's eyes went wide when she felt two sharp fangs on her skin. "NO!" She cried as she tried to push the Vampire lord off her. But it was too late.
Harkon didn't make things clean.
He made sure that the puncture was as rough and as painful as possible for Skylar. He wanted her to feel every inch of life being sucked out of her. He didn't care if Skylar survived. If she did she would walk through life knowing she was nothing more than a feeding slave for Harkon… If she didn't… Well… Serana would just love to see the new trophy he was going to hang up on his wall.
"Stop!" Skylar begged, already feeling weak, she pushed against his chest as hard as she could.
But Harkon only reached for her wrists and pinned them down above her head. Skylar was much smaller than him and was already in a weakened state from the collar. She was his to do with as he pleased, And with her blood giving him an extra boost he was going to kill ever single vampire hunter that decided to trespass on his island.
"Please…." Skylar's vision began to blur and her struggling slowly came to a stop. "Stop…" She couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. A whimper was the last thing that left her lips before her mind plunged into darkness.
She followed her scent. She could smell fear… She could smell blood.
With Isran and a few other's backing her they found where Skylar had gone.
"Through here!" Serana yelled as she kicked a door open. But what they saw was enough to make Serana feel physically ill.
Her father… Pinning Skylar to a table… Feeding off her.
It was as if time slowed down.
She saw Skylar's eyes close and her hands unclench as she fell unconscious. They were too late.
"NO!" Serana's scream echoed through the room as she changed into her Vampire Lord form. She had not done so in so long, so when her body changed into one so strong she didn't know her own strength. She flew over to Harkon and grabbed him by the neck, tearing him clean off of Skylar and holding him high off the ground.
"Serana!" Harkon's voice was struggled as Serana squeezed harder and harder. She was going to snap his neck. She no longer cared about watching him suffer. She just wanted him dead, he violated her lover in a way that was a fate worse than death in the eyes of a vampire.
Harkon knew this, he wasn't going to live to see the next moon. So instead of allowing Serana hear him beg for death… He laughed… "She's mine… Now… Marked forever… As my own…" His voice was struggled and he laughing was haunting.
Serana slammed him into a wall and snarled. "SHE WILL NEVER BE YOURS! SHE NEVER WAS NEVER WILL!... No marking could ever make me think of her any different… You pathetic waste of LIFE!" And with that she pulled Harkon closer and sunk her fangs deep into his neck. She thought about snapping his neck… But no… Instead…
Serana pulled her head away from his neck, taking a chunk of flesh with her before she threw him to the side…. Only after she grabbed the key and smashed it.
Harkon desperately tried to cover his neck to try and keep himself from bleeding.. But the blood flowed out freely and it was only a matter of seconds before he was on the ground in a pool of his own blood….
Serana turned around and rushed over to Skylar, Isran was already there, his hands on her neck trying to stop the bleeding.
"Serana… I have no health potions." Isran told her desperately.
Serana reverted back to her old self and reached into her satchel. Her clothes were ripped and torn but still hanging on.
She didn't care about being neat and tidy, She pushed Isran away, she didn't want anyone else touching Skylar. She poured half of the bottle onto Skylar's neck before she tilted her head up to try and get Skylar to drink.
"Skylar… Please if you can hear me you need to open your mouth, you need to drink this.. Please!" Serana didn't care that her own face was covered in blood as she spoke, the only thing that she could pay attention to was the fact that her lover was not opening her eyes…. She could barely hear a pulse. "Skylar!" Serana shook her.
Isran snapped his fingers. "I will be back! I know who can help!" He said before he ran out of the room. "Florentius!" Serana could hear him scream.
Thinking quickly Serana brought the vial to her own lips and filled her own mouth with the bitter liquid before she pressed her lips against Skylar's, forcing Skylar to open her mouth so she could push the liquid in.
After a few seconds Skylar began to cough and sputter as Serana continued to force Skylar to drink, even as Skylar tried to push her away. Serana knew that in Skylar's mind she was probably thinking that she was Harkon… 'Oh Skylar… My poor Skylar…' Serana's mind whispered as she pulled away from the girl's mouth as Skylar continued to cough and choke on the liquid.
She was conscious. That was a good sign. So at least some of the potion must have gotten into her, the rest was expelled by Skylar's coughing.
"That's right, my love… Awaken… Help is on the way." Serana reached forward and ran a hand through Skylar's hair. But that hand was feebly slapped away by Skylar before the smaller girl tried to desperately move away from Serana.
"Skylar… It's ok now… Everything is going to be ok." Serana murmured, heart breaking at the sight of the horrified girl.
Serana was so fixated on Skylar that she didn't even notice that Isran and Florentius were back until Florentius casted a very strong healing spell on Skylar.
"I don't know how much that will do… Maybe enough to keep her alive but the rest of the healing is up to her own body." Florentius said before he began to mutter on about his religious beliefs.
Serana took Skylar's hands in her own and gave Skylar a sad smile. "Everything is going to be ok now…" She murmured.
But Skylar just looked up at Serana with a blank look on her face.
"Skylar…?" Serana's brow furrowed. Something was still very wrong.
"Who are you..?" Skylar whispered as she pulled her hands away.
SUPRISE!
And so IT BEGINS!
THE DRAMA!
THE HORROR!
THE HEALING!
THE LOVE!
Poor Skylar! What happened to you!? What did Harkon do to you!?
XD Everyone will find out soon!