The Jarl's house was abuzz with people cheering in victory as Vera recalled how she'd slain the vampires that had been infesting Morthal. People raised mugs in her honor while the Jarl appointed her as the official thane of Morthal as well as giving her ownership of Windstead Manor for a reward.
"My last thane spent the better part of a decade building that manor, but sadly he died shortly after finishing it. It's been maintained but left vacant. I hope you will treat it well."
She downed a mug of ale to the people before leaving the home and venturing out into the darkness filled streets of Morthal and into the adjacent swamp where after a few minutes she found Alva sitting on a rock examining a dagger. "So what did the villagers have to say?"
"I'm the new thane."
"Well that's something at least." she jumped down from the boulder and dusted off her black armor. Vera had seen every vampire wearing armor like that but for the first time she had to stop and admire just how good it made Alva look. She pulled away just as Alva looked up to her.
"So now that you've killed my coven and dragged me along I need to know. What's next? Killing dragons? Saving more villages like this? Or are we going to get rich by selling our swords to some cause?"
Vera opened her mouth to speak but found that she really didn't have an answer.
What do I do next? I became an adventurer to get rich and have fun.
But as she thought of her next step something inside of her, something dark and riving seemed to take control of her. Her body went cold as she felt her mouth move and form words.
"We need to get more power. We'll need much more if we are to rule."
"And just how do we get power?"
Her hand went to her back to unsheathe her blade. "First we empower my blade with the blood of betrayal. Only then will we be ready for what's to come." The feeling faded and she felt her body return to normal. She shook her head trying to figure out what happened as Alva looked at her strangely.
"Are you okay?" she asked reaching out.
Vera slapped her hand away when it got close. "I'm fine!... Just a little tired is all. Now come on I have a new home to examine."
As Vera started off Alva thought about reaching for her dagger and ending this woman. But after remembering just how skilled she was with that sword she decided against it and followed her hoping that sticking with Vera would be worth it in the long run.
After an hours trek through the swamp Vera saw a lone building at the edge of the swamp. From what she could see it was two stories tall with two large buildings on either side with a thinner tower attached to the back.
As she got closer she saw that it was old and slightly worn by the weather but it was still sturdy. Using the key she was given she opened the door to what would become her new home. Once inside she saw how black and empty it was. After seeing the candles she muttered the shout for fire as softly as she could just to enough to lite them.
Once the entry way was lit opened the doors to the main hall.
As she explored her new home Alva walked past her and examined the rooms.
"Looks like you've got an armory and a bedroom. Not to bad for a house built near a swamp."
"We also have the makings of a decent library and I think I saw trap door for a basement."
Hearing this Alva quickly found and flipped open the door before venturing down. Almost immediately the sounds of screeches filled the house. Alva unsheathed her blade and ran down into the basement only to find Alva throwing the last of a group of skeevers against the wall.
"By the nine I despise these things. Should have known an old house like this would be infested."
"It looks like you dealt with them easily enough." Walking past her she examined the large basement. The first room they were in looked to be some storage room judging by the barrels. The next room was just a barren room decorated with a couple wall scones.
As Ava walked and saw the room she turned to Vera. "It's not much but I'll use this room."
"Excuse me?"
"If I'm going to be staying with you I'll need a room for my coffin. And for a vampire this desolate dark room with fit my needs quite nicely. That is after I find what rat hole the skeevers came from and dose it with a strong poison."
Vera thought for a moment but soon realized that Alva was right. She really had no need for a vacant basement like this and Alva being a vampire wouldn't sleep in a normal bed.
"Fine but just remember that this is my house."
Alva waved her off as she went back upstairs and into the main room.
"I'll need to by some furniture, maybe start with some chairs and a proper bed. I should be able to buy what I need in Morthal."
For the next few hours she haggled with the shop keepers as she bought everything from beds to decorations and paid the workers to carry them to her home.
Alva of course stayed in her basement during all this as she not only exterminated the skeever nest. It wasn't until the last of the workers were leaving did she sneak up and put one under her spell so that they would bring her coffin from her former home.
When night finally came to the newly furnished manor Vera stood on the second floor railing and took in her new home.
"It's good to have your own place." she said walking down the stairs and into the armory. Inside the room was packed with chests and armor and weapon racks. She looked out the window at the newly constructed forge and had a thought.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll make myself a new set of armor. From how my latest adventures went I'll be needing something sturdier. Not that it really matters as this sword seems to heal my wounds.
She then retreated into her new bedroom where she placed the ebony blade in a special case she constructed and flopped down on her bed where she hoped she could rest easily.
Sadly like most things in her life this wasn't the case as her dreams quickly turned into nightmares as various people flashed in her mind. Friends, enemies, her shield siblings and even her parents. Each one followed with a scream and the smell of fresh blood.
When she opened her eyes she was already on her feet and in the woods just outside her new home with her hands firmly gripping the ebony blade. To her horror the blade seemed to be faintly glowing.
"Not this again." with what strength she could muster she plunged the dark weapon into the ground. She watched for a moment but it still continued to glow.
Slowey she walked away from the blade and looked around confused. "How did I get out here? And why?"
As she looked around she began hearing voices in the distance. Walking a short ways she saw thee of the men that had helped her move the furniture earlier today armed with bows. Not to far from where they were a small herd of elk drinking from the swamp.
Doing a bit of night hunting huh? Wait a minute...
Turning her head back to the blade she got angry. "No! I'm not going to kill them."
In her anger she wedged her blade free and started back to her home determined not to kill because some blade wanted it. She was halfway home when she heard a scream coming from behind her. Her instincts kicking in she ran back to where they were and saw that a saber cat had killed one of the hunters and was currently attacking another while the last tried to aim his bow.
Even from the distance she could see how he was trembling with fear. He took two steps back and fired his arrow missing by nearly six feet and hitting a tree yards away. In her hand the blade hummed with desire as he called for help.
I could rush down there right now and save him, but if I did then the blade would demand I kill him.
Her mind was split between hoping them and letting nature take it's course.
It wasn't until the man below them reached for his empty quiver and put out a small dagger did she feel her body moving. Her body moving on instinct she raced through the short distance as the saber cat pulled away from it's second victim and ran for the third. Her legs moved through the dirt and muck at speeds she'd never achieved as she dove in front of him blade drawn just as the saber cat pounced. Her sword rammed through it's skill but the impact drove of it's strike drove her onto her back and into the muck. After a few moments she felt her breathing slow as the cat above her stopped struggling and died. She rolled it off her and got to her feet.
The man she'd just saved helped her to her feet and hugged her. "Thank you dragonborn! My friends didn't even hear the saber cat until it struck. We thought this was going to be a simple night hunt."
As he spoke the sword hummed in her hands and desire swept through her arms.
Miles from the village and late at night. No witnesses if something happened.
He turned around to mourn his friends. As he knelt down she summoned all the strength she had and put down her blade. Immediately it started burning in her hands but she was unable to let go.
"You should leave. Saber cats aren't the only dangers out here and I'm not prepared to protect you."
"But my friend's bodies..."
"Will still be here in the morning! Now leave!" hearing the edge to her voice he turned and ran toward Morthal.
Her hand still burning she raised the blade. "Listen up blade I'm the one in change not you. I won't kill just because you demand it."
She had just started heading home for the second time when the blade exploded with energy as it filled her body with a cold darkness. She quickly blacked out but somehow felt her body moving then a terrible scream filled her ears. When she could finally open here eyes again she saw that to her horror lying on the ground with her blade sticking out of his back was the man she'd just let live. His blood already flowing from his remains and into the cursed weapon.
"No!" but even though she was horrified at what the blade had made her do the was a growing part of her that was just glad that the blade was no longer hungry.