"Does this ice seem... A little thin to you?" Serana asked, nervously looking down at the rushing water beneath her feet. Lotux quickly got a mental image of her and Marcius pushing Serana into the water, watching her be swept away by the current. It was all she could do to not commit this murder. Yet.
Marcius, on the other hand, seemed far less nervous than her weak willed sister Serana; he slid across the ice with unnatural eagerness. As much as she hated his childlike demeanor, she was in an unusually good mood, and the sight brought a smile to her face, albeit a small one.
Darin had crossed the ice to inspect a rock, standing alone. There were odd engravings, but nothing out of the ordinary happened; he simply etched them down on paper and sat down, watching the other three cross the ice.
"How old is he, anyways?" Serana asks suddenly, crossing her arms and watching the boy with a bemused look. Lotux sighed.
"When I found him, he was apparently 17," She admits, looking away. "I got way more than I bargained for, turning him. He never leaves my side."
There is an awkward silence, before Serana finally speaks again.
"Only you would complain about that. You never got over it, did you? You never got over the day Harkon cast you out."
Her voice was soft, pitying. She met Serana's sad gaze with a fierce one of her own, the fire in her eyes saying it all.
Everything was moving in slow motion. Marcius watched in horror as the ice beneath his feet groaned and cracked, the water beneath them suddenly turbulent by unknown forces. To his left, Serana and Lotux gazed into each other's eyes, locked in a conversation. They did not notice.
But Marcius did. He could feel the awakening of a presence, of an ancient hunger, the power coiling like a whip, ready to snap. The ice began to vibrate- faintly. The women did not notice- but Marcius did.
No longer acting in attempts to preserve himself, he focused his mind on Lotux. On the fire in her eyes, the lovely golden halo around her head from the sun, the pale skin that was unmarred by time; the smile that sometimes pulled at the left side of her lip, before slowly fading. The brief touch of her lips, faint though it was, lighting a spark in him. The first time he saw her, walking towards him at her slow pace, eyes wide with shock, before narrowing with a hidden intent. The hunger there, the longing for someone.
These little moments, these small actions, gave him strength. He readied a spell in his mind, the power of the words cloaking him like a second skin. The ice began to shake harder now, and a faint shadow passed beneath the ice. Faint, but large. very large.
"Telekinesis!" He screamed, directing all of the power towards Lotux.
And Lotux goes flying, her body tumbling over the ice, over the waterfalls, before falling out of sight.
Not even a second after Lotux leaves the ground, a dragon erupts from beneath their feet, maw open, painting the sky with fire, before snapping shut.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Serana was hit by the massive wingspan of the dragon, spiraling upwards, and darkness threatens to overcome Marcius's vision. However, he would not falter.
"Serana!" Darius screamed, dropping his utensils and charging across the ice, hoping to break the vampire's fall. Serana gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
"I'm fine, Darius. Go get Lotux!" She exclaimed, blood dribbling down her chin. She landed shakily across the ice, her legs folding into a crouch.
Marcius eyed the dragon above them, circling, and once again, the ice beneath them began to shake. His mind worked fast; Lotux, their best fighter, was nowhere to be found since he propelled her away; Serana was harmed, Darius busy with retrieving Lotux. It was up to him.
The creature began to quickly make a descent, tucking its wings, and made for the water. The dark-headed vampire dropped to a crouch, orange eyes flickering with a hidden intent.
He counted down the seconds, breath lodged in his throat. Finally, just before the beast hit the water, Marcius leapt up, maneuvering his agile body over and above the dragon, before grabbing onto one of it's wings.
The water hit him like a hammer. It took his breath away, slammed into him, but he did not relinquish his hold. Deeper and deeper the dragon sunk, and slowly, bubbles streaming from Marcius's mouth, his hair swirling around him, he began to climb the dragon, using the ladder-like scales for leverage. His heart hammered away like a drum in his chest, and he finally made it to the creature's neck.
Suddenly, they changed directions, and just as quickly as they came down, they went up. The change of pressure made Marcius's ears pop, and the dragon angrily swung it's head wildly, trying to be rid of the intruder.
They crashed through the ice, and the dragon breathed a stream of flame, roaring in it's wake. Marcius clenched his thighs around the dragon's neck and slid upwards, his fingers searching for the mouth.
Finally, there. Ignoring the flames lapping at his arms, ignoring the blood trickling down from the sharp teeth, he grabbed the dragon by the gums and pulled upwards, face contorted with agony. The muscles in his arms contracted and popped, and he let out a strangled scream as he pulled.
There was the sound of ripping flesh, snapping bones, and Marcius's vision went black.
Serana looked on in disbelief, jaw hung open.
"Did that boy... Just rip the jaw off that dragon?" She asked, still not believing. But here it was, the evidence at her feet. The corpse of a dragon, damp with salt water, staining the ice red. The jaw had been crudely seperated, ripped from it's hold, thrown several feet away.
"So that's why Lotux puts up with you. You're more use to her alive then dead; for now, at least."
She gazed down at the pieces, before finally getting over her shock and falling to her knees next to the boy, tending to his wounds.
His wrists were covered in third-degree burns, his fingertips rubbed raw from the teeth. She could see the outline of bruises lining his skin, creeping up his neck, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Serana reached down and searched his neck for a pulse, and found none. Her face darkened, and she leaned over the boy, prepared to ressesucate him, when an iron hand grabbed her wrist.
Those eyes. Orange, swirling faintly with red, looking up at her with an intense emotion. Rage, regret, devotion? She could not place it.
"I am fine. Go... get Lotux. She knows... What to do," Marcius said, before laying back down. His eyes fluttered closed, exhaled the softest of breaths, and was silent.
Lotux seethed, shivering from the temperature of the ice. If the boy wasn't dead, she'd kill him. He knew she hated ice, hated that blasted spell Telekenesis, and still, he did it. He tossed her body over the bend like a fucking rag-doll. The blonde groaned, reaching up to touch the tender spot on her head, and when she withdrew her hand, she found her fingers stained red.
"Well, fuck," she muttered.
"Don't get up. I'm here," a voice murmured, soft, deep, and reassuring. She looked up, confused; Darin. Her fangs slid out from her gums at the prospect of a meal.
"I'll kill him, I swear," Lotux said, looking up. Darin's sure face quickly changed to shock. "What?"
The red-head held out his hands, as if approaching a scared animal. "Your head. It's gushing. Don't move."
Lotux suddenly smiled a tired smile, and held up two fingers. "I didn't know you had a twin, Darin. He's not that bad looking, either."
Confusion. He looked so confused. "I don't- wait, are you seeing double?"
But Lotux was fading, her eyes sliding closed. So tired. So sleepy. And cold, so cold. The last thing she was was Darin, the last thing she felt was his arms sliding around her; and then all went black.
"You're okay, Lotux. You're okay," Darin whispered, picking up the woman in his arms. Her limbs were limp, and he carefully slid them around his neck, holding her like a child. Her head rested perfectly against his chest, nestled between his collarbones. She was beautiful, even more than Serana, he finally realized. Without that permanent scowl on her face, she looked almost harmless. Her eyelids were a faint purple, her skin pale and smooth, lips pink and full.
And now for the climb. Marcius had thrown her pretty much across the Vale, down the cliff, and to the water below. He could take the long way, or go up the falls.
But now, he decided, it probably wasn't the best idea with a unconscious vampire in his arms. Sighing, he walked slowly across the ice, up the many stairs, when a flash of red caught his eye.
There, behind the massive ice giant. A chest, and a red potion of some sort, conveniently placed. He glanced down at Lotux, and made his decision.
Slowly, he laid her down and made a pillow of snow for her to rest her head on; searching for a weapon. Finding none, his eyes rested on Vul-Dur-Al, the golden hilt shining.
He hesitated. It wasn't right, to take her sword, but the girl really needed a potion. Gently, as to not disturb her slumber, he slid the sword from its sheath.
It was well weighted, a perfect balance. It fit snugly in the palm of his hand. He raised it above his head, trying to catch the light on it, when a jolt of electricity surged up his arm. It didn't hurt, but it definitely wasn't pleasant, either. Shaking his head, he turned to face the giant, brow furrowed with concentration.
Without another word, he charged, swinging the sword. He sliced the massive giant just above the knees, before leaping back, just out of reach. He barely avoided the powerful blow that sent snow and rocks flying, but he wasn't deterred. Darin attacked again, doing a swirling backslash to his ankles.
"Ah!" Darin suddenly cried as a fiercer jolt of electricity passed through him. This time, it was far more painful. The giant seized it's moment and attacked once more, swinging his giant club at the head of the man.
Just then, a hand grabbed his ankle and his feet flew out from under him, and he landed roughly on the ground. The club passed a mere centimeters from his head, but he was unharmed.
It was Lotux, looking down at him with a tired look on her face. Her skin was a sickly shade of pale, and still, a steady stream of blood slid down her face.
"Lotux, don't rip my head off or anything, but... You look like shit," he admitted. She smiled slightly, before reaching down and grabbing the sword.
"I hope you learned your lesson. It's not good to steal."
Lotux then dashed forward, ducking quickly to avoid another blow, before slashing quickly three hits in succession, too fast for his human eyes to process. Limbs began to fall like rain- two arms and a head.
"I didn't know you were such a professor in the art of being 'good'," He shot back, enjoying the playful banter between the them. Lotux let out a hollow laugh, before suddenly swaying from side to side. Darin rolled over to the side, and Lotux collapsed in his arms, unconscious once more.
There was far too much blood; more than what could come from her head. Darin carefully brushed the curls back from her back and saw the problem.
Straight across the back of her neck was a huge gash, cleanly cut to the bone, revealing her spine. He marveled at the fact she could even walk, much less fight.
He slid her from his grasp carefully, before dashing forward, his hand wrapping around the heavy red potion. Opening the clasp, he gave is a conscious sniff, before cringing and holding it away from him. It smelled like... blood.
Which is just what she needed. He quickly made his way over to Lotux, gently tilted her head back, parted her lips. Slowly, the blood ran down her throat. And just like that, the bottle was empty. Lotux's eyes fluttered open, and her tongue darted out to catch the remaining droplets.
She spoke one word. "More."
Darin nodded, understanding. He leaned in, tilted his head to the side, exposing the soft flesh of his neck. But Lotux quickly shook her head, reaching forward and pressing her lips to his.
His eyes opened wide with shock, and he tried to pull away, but her grip was like iron. Finally, he allowed the event to happen, his blue eyes shutting, and his mouth opening.
She tasted faintly of blood, but the strong underlying flavor was berries. Her tongue deftly intertwined with his, and soon he was kissing back with just as much passion as she.
Suddenly, there was a sharp pinch in his bottom lip, and he realized she had sunk her fangs into the soft flesh there. She began to suck gently, drawing out the sweet nectar.
After several minutes, she withdrew, letting out a content sigh. Slowly, the color returned to her cheeks, and a scowl crossed her features- there was the Lotux he had come to expect.
"The veins just behind your lip have a healing affect, stronger then the blood coursing in your neck," she said, as if to explain. A smile, coy, pulled at her lips. "I hope you didn't mind."
And Darin realized, with a bit of shock... that he didn't.
Not at all.