The sun was past set about time they'd arrived to Morthal. Aiedo pulled on the reins, prompting Allie to slow down from her gallop and into a trot. Before they came to a full stop, Aela swung her leg over and dropped to the ground.

"We will rest up here for a while," Aiedo said as her feet touched the ground. Though the cold did not effect her much, she pulled the cloak tight around her shoulders. After giving her and affectionate rub on the neck, Aiedo sent her horse off with a pat to the hind. Vigilance trotted up to her and started to sniff at the satchel hanging off her waist and Aiedo stepped back. With one hand outstretched to calm him, she reach inside the satchel and pulled out a strip of dried meat and held it high above him. Vigilance jumped up, but Aiedo jerked the treat away. She held out her hand and held up the treat again. Vigilance barked and rose up to sit on his hind legs.

"Do you need any gold?" Aiedo asked, looking at Aela. She promptly ignored the whining from her dog.

The Huntress shook her head. "Thank you, but no."

"Are you sure?" she asked, jerking her arm again when Vigilance tried to catch her unaware. "I'd say you've done enough to earn sort of pay."

"I'm not some whore, Aiedo."

"Wha-" Pain shot up through her hand. Cradling her injured digit, Aiedo watched, dumbfounded, Vigilance run up behind Aela while snacking on the treat. He looked up at her from behind the Huntress' leg with his big eyes, scrapes of meat falling from his lips.

Smiling innocently, Aela held out her hand. "Well, since you insisted."

Pouting, Aiedo untied one of the two large pouches tied to her hip and handed it to her. Their gloved fingers brushed, lingered, before Aela pulled her hand back. As she was tying the pouch to her belt, a shadow engulfed her and she heard Aiedo say, "You are mine, Aela the Huntress."

Before she knew what was happening, she was pinned against a building. She reacted instinctively and grabbed onto Aiedo's forearms, her sharp nails digging into muscle but Aiedo's presence held. Aiedo lowered her head and spoke softly, but the words were not directed to Aela; the words - if any were said - were incoherent. Aela's breath hitched when the warrior pressed a knee between her legs and brought her body closer, nuzzling her neck. Aela felt herself getting dizzy. She was getting lost in Aiedo's scent, and her body was starting to respond to her touch. She would have truly been lost if Vigilance's loud barking hadn't gotten through.

Eyes snapping open, Aela struck Aiedo in the chest with the flat of her palm. The warrior stumbled back, coughing. Though Aela was shocked and appalled by her actions, the thought of hurting her friend troubled her more. Aela was about to ask if she was okay but a movement over Aiedo's shoulder caught her attention. Aiedo saw her looking there and spun around to see herself staring into the face of a dark haired woman.

The warrior's eyes were immediately drawn to the woman's ample chest. When she realized that she was blatantly staring, she tore her gaze away and forced herself to look at the woman's face, but the stranger didn't seem to be bothered by her lecherous stare. If anything, it seemed like her smile had broaden. The woman stepped closer, and Aiedo was spellbound. She leaned into the warrior and wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

"Well, aren't you the cute one."

Her eyes spoke volumes; all Aiedo saw was a burning desire. The dark brown orbs were swirling with silver, and Aiedo felt a part of her resolve crumbling, but also another part of her told her to snap out of it. Snap out of what?

"Can I help you with something?" Aiedo said forcibly, her voice shaky. The woman's smile faltered. She appeared to be surprised, and only slightly disappointed. The arms dropped from her shoulder and the woman backed away. She looked the warrior up and down, frowning as though something was amiss. Before Aiedo could comment, the woman perked up and the smile returned.

"Interesting."

Feeling objectified, Aiedo said, angrily, "Look lady, I don't kno-" The woman cut her off by pulling Aiedo to her by the belt. She then grabbed the back of her head and crushed their lips together.

Aela gaped, stunned. Aiedo wasn't even trying to fight her off. A dark pit started to form in her chest, and she felt ill. Admittedly, she was about to stomp off somewhere and sulk but she noticed something about their body language, and when the revelation dawned unto her, Aela drew her sword and called out Aiedo's name.

The woman was the first to break away. Aiedo's head felt cloudy and numb, and she was drawn to the woman in front of her for no explicable reason. Tracing a nail along the warrior's slacked jaw, the woman said, "I will be seeing you," before walking past her. As she passed Aela, she turned her head and winked.

Over the pounding in her ears, Aiedo heard growling. Turning around, she saw both Aela and Vigilance watching the brunette. The Huntress looked at her and snarled.

"Vampire."


.0.

A crowd was forming. She noticed it from out the corner of her eye. Aiedo furrowed her brows, but didn't say anything. She instead lifted the axe over her head and brought it down onto another log, splitting it into two. She bent to pick up another. She set it up, lifted the axe. Split. She repeated this process until there is nothing left to chop, and there were enough logs for her to build her own cottage. Aiedo notched the blade into the stump and looked around.

The crowd seemed to have gotten bigger.

A small boy was the first to run up to her and bluntly ask, "Are you the Dragonborn," without so much as a preamble. How rude.

"I am," Aiedo said. She didn't expect the people around her to throw their arms up and break into cheers, hugging anyone who was close by and laughing with welled up tears in their eyes. Aiedo stood awkwardly while the crowd dispersed. Some people came up to her, thanked her and shook her hand, while the others went to the tavern in high spirits, taking turns offering to buy the rounds.

Glorious.

"You sure are popular."

Aiedo glanced behind her. Aela was slowly approaching, her eyes on the departing crowd. She was dressed in what Aiedo would say to be workers clothes, which confused her at first.

"What's with the outfit?"

"I could ask the same of you," Aela said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Humor me first."

Aela sighed wearily, but said, "This town isn't really doing too well because they are too preoccupied with the fire incident. I thought I could maybe help out around. I'm sure they can appreciate a few helping hands."

"That's very big of you."

Aela pursed her lips. "And what's with you? Why are you chopping that wood?"

"What does it look like? I plan on selling all of this." A worker dropped an arm full of logs at her feet. Aiedo nodded at him. He nodded back and walked away. Aiedo took the axe back into her grip. "That giant really did a number on me. He busted my shield and dented my armor. I can't repair the amount of damage that was done and so now I have to make a new set."

"That was four days ago. I haven't seen you since then."

Aiedo lifted the axe over her head. A grip on the handle stopped it mid-swing.

"You've been avoiding me," Aela said.

"I've been busy," Aiedo offered lamely.

"We need to talk."

"About what?" Aiedo asked, even though she already knew. And she bit down on her tongue at her folly.

The firm grip on the axe lifted, and Aiedo let it fall back to her side. Although she was deathly afraid to do so, Aiedo turned around and braced herself. Aela's eyes were wide in shock. The Huntress tried to meet her gaze, but Aiedo purposefully avoided them.

"I see, then." Aela said, her tone stoic. She turned on her heel and walked away. A knot jumped into Aiedo's throat. She quickly moved to start after her, but she ended up stopping midway.

"What do I mean to you?"

It was said softly, so she didn't expect Aela to stop and turn around to say, "Everything."


.0.

Aiedo was seated in the darkest corner of the tavern. She brought the tankard tightly clasped in her hand to her lips and downed it all. The mead was too sweet. It didn't give off the burn she was hoping for. The tankard clambered down with a resounding clap, but no one reacted to it. The noise was drowned out by the loud cheering and singing of the drunken patrons. They were still celebrating. Aiedo sat back and watched from afar.

The barmaid was truly talented, and someone to definitely avoid in battle. She could flow swiftly through a crowd of drunk and rowdy men and evade their groping hands while balancing a tray of drinks in each upturned hand. While she was bending over to place one of the trays at their table, one of the men, a sleazy old fool with stringy grey hair, made the mistake of slapping her hard on the behind. A hand immediately seized his wrist and twisted until his head was pressed against the table and his arm was behind his back in an awkward position. The man cried out in pain, but the patrons only laughed harder and his assaulter didn't relent.

"You can let him go, honey," the barmaid said, although she was sneering at the man.

"Are you sure?" At her nod, Aela huffed. With a lasting slap on the back of his balding head, she let go. The Huntress sat down feet away from the man, scowling. Her mood lifted some when Vigilance jumped into her lap and licked her face, and the men around them clapped on her shoulders on her act of heroism, even though, given the chance, they would have surely done the same thing as he did. The others whistled and made catcalls at the man who didn't dare to look in the Huntress' way.

Aiedo could feel a sense of pride bubbling in her chest. She watched as the barmaid slowly made her way to her.

"You know," the barmaid said as she placed a filled tankard next to the dozen others, "I would think that I was serving these drinks to a ghost, but your eyes glow brighter than smoldering embers. Mysterious, if not ominous, and yet enticing."

The barmaid looked up from she a glimmer of white. A smile?

Aiedo said, "Thank you." The barmaid hesitated, looked back, and then decided to leave a whole pitcher with her. Before she walked off, Aiedo took her hand and pressed a small pouch into her palm. "For your troubles."

The barmaid did not object. But she did put an extra kick into her step, a sway to her hips. The feeling of metal digging into her palm brought Aiedo to. She let go of the crushed tankard and wiped her wet chin. What in Oblivion is wrong with me? She wondered. On often times, she would find herself sexually attracted to anything that had two legs; even more so, the person she desired wasn't even remotely attractive.

One of the reasons that she has been avoiding Aela was because the fantasies about her were much stronger than the others. Every time they touched, her body would grow hot. Every time she caught a whiff of her scent, her mind would go numb. All she would think about was the way Aela would feel arching under her touch, mewling her name over and over again in lengthy moans as her experienced tongue and fingers brought her closer to...

Aiedo caught a hold of herself before it went too far. Exhaling slowly, she placed a hand to her chest and felt the heavy thumping. Groaning, she massaged her temples. There was a tingling at the back of her skull. She scratched there but the feeling only intensified. She thought nothing of it as she grabbed her drink and downed it like the others. She spared another glance at the Huntress, paused, and that is when it happened.

Something within her snapped.

Aiedo gasped loudly. It felt like the wind was knocked out of her lungs. Her lips parted but no words came out, only a strained groan. The tankard slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor.

Mine!

She couldn't breath. It felt like invisible hands were slowly encircling her neck. Aiedo grasped at her throat, as if to fight the hands away. She was getting lightheaded; she was seeing red. With a hand she reached out to Aela, but the Huntress didn't see.

Mine!

Aiedo jumped to her feet and ran out of the door. On the porch she fell to her knees, still gasping. As the cold met her flesh, Aiedo could feel her body start to relax. The hammering in her chest slowed to its regular beat. The hands gripping her neck loosened, and she was able to breath again.

The first thing she noticed was that she was not alone. Looking up through bleary eyes, she saw someone leaning casually against the railing. Aiedo fell forward onto her hands, too tired to do anything otherwise. She heard the creaking of the wood as footsteps neared her. A pair of hands grabbed her under the arm and brought her to her feet.

A woman, who's outline registered somewhere in her mind, was smiling up at her as she said, "Follow me." It sounded like a command. She just turned and walked away and Aiedo, still disorientated, followed her. About time she could regain her bearings, they were standing outside a forest's edge. Aiedo looked around to get a sense of where she was, but no landmarks that she recognized were in sight, and she had left her map back at the tavern.

"Aiedo."

She looked at the person who had brought her here and had called her name. Alva, who still had her back to her, looked over her shoulder and met her gaze.

"That is your name," she said, turning around to face her. "When you first came here, I knew not your name, nor cared to learn it. When I first laid eyes on you, I saw you nothing more than a new face I would have surely added to my collection of cattle. But now, those thoughts have changed." She stepped closer and wrapped one arm around the warrior's waist and placed a hand to her chest. "You have piqued my interests, Aiedo."

"Should I be flattered.?" Aiedo growled. She did not resist the embrace, nor did she return it, for her body was still weary.

"You should be obligated to please me," Alva said as she traced Aiedo's lower lip with a thumb. "To serve me, and to be mine."

And then she felt it. As Alva planted kisses to her neck, she felt something sharp brush against her skin.

Fangs.

Vampire.

Aiedo lashed out, but Alva was standing feet away as if she'd been standing there the whole time, and the past occurrences were just a figment of her imagination. Aiedo released a low growl, her breath crystallizing in the cold air. She felt invigorated. Her reflexes were in high alert, and she felt ready to ward off any danger that was to come. Earlier, she would have found this odd, but she knew what was happening. She was losing control again, slowly but surely.

Is this what she has to deal with the rest of her life?

If Alva was phased by her actions, she did not outwardly express it. Aiedo noticed that the woman was always wearing her signature smirk, her brown eyes always filled with a hunger that would never be sated.

"I assumed as much, but now I know for sure. You have bad blood." When Aiedo did not respond, Alva said, while motioning behind her, "I would like to play a game with you; if you would indulge me." And then she ran into the forest. Aiedo took off after her, running on pure instinct. With her powerful muscles, she was able to reach speeds that no mere human could hope to achieve, but Alva was still a good distance ahead of her. She knew that, even with her beast blood, she still was not as fast as her beast. A shudder ran down her spine, and Aiedo took it as her other conscious agreeing. Her head started to feel heavy, but she pushed the feeling away.

This was her hunt.

She was so caught up with her inner conflict that it took a moment to realize that Alva was nowhere in sight. Aiedo stopped in her tracks and looked around.

"You're not going to catch me in that form," a voice said from above. Aiedo looked up and saw Alva sitting on a high branch, examining her nails with disinterest. She looked down at her and smirked. "What are you waiting for? Shed your skin, little pup."

"I am not some lap dog that you can just command to do your every whim. I will not change for your amusement!" But Aiedo could feel her body disagreeing. Even as she spoke, she could feel her body growing feverish, her beast pressing insistently at her consciousness. Aiedo commanded her to stop, but her beast only growled and pressed harder. Aiedo's head started to buzz with pain.

Alva dropped from the branch and landed gracefully on her feet. She placed a hand on a cocked hip and smiled knowingly. "That's it, little pup," she cooed. "Transform for me. Show me the beast you truly are."

"Shut up!" Aiedo snapped, her lips curling into a snarl. The color in her eyes were starting to fade. The veins in her neck and face grew prominent as she struggled to keep her bestial side at bay. Canines poked out from her lips, and blood dripped from where newly formed claws dug into her palms.

"Why do you fight it?" Alva asked, circling her. "You're only hurting yourself even more."

It took Aiedo a while to answer, for the thoughts flooding her mind were no longer just her own.

"I would rather...hurt...myself than others."

"And what if you need to hurt others in order to keep the ones you love safe?"

"The people I...love?" Her thoughts went straight to Lydia, and a wave of anguish swept through her.

As if reading her thoughts, Alva leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "You don't have to fight it anymore. Just let go."

And so she did. Aiedo retreated within the darkest reaches of her own mind, and with a mighty roar that shook the air around them, the beast was finally unleashed. Red eyes took in their surroundings, and then narrowed in on the creature in front of her. The vampire backed away, grinning haughtily before turning to run. The beast howled loudly, eager for the hunt, and dropped onto all fours and gave chase.

She was much faster in this form. She was covering larger ground with her bounds, and was tailing the vampire within seconds. The vampire was within reach. The beast snapped her jaws and caught her by the dress and pulled her to the ground. She snarled as she shook her prey viciously. The vampire reared her leg back and struck her in the face, eliciting a cry from the mighty wolf. The dress tore, and the vampire stumbled to her feet and fled into the night.

Shaking the torn piece of fabric from her lip, the beast stopped and listened. Silence. She had lost sight of her prey, but she still had her scent so she ran into that direction.

The darkness seemed eternal. Even the beast felt her stamina wearing out. She also felt her Master fighting for control, and with no blood to sate her, she would be forced to submit.

Just as she felt her presence waning, the beast broke through the trees and into a clearing. The vampire was standing with her back to her. Howling in triumphed, the beast charged. The vampire did not waver, even as she approached her with high speeds. The beast pushed herself off the ground and pounced. Just when her prey was within her reach, the vampire vanished, leaving nothing but air. The momentum kept her moving forward. She kept falling. The beast howled as she fell, before landing in a pond with a splash.

Seconds passed, and then minutes. The bubbles ceased. Aiedo broke the surface with a loud gasp. She crawled up to shore, coughing up fits of water. Her body was so heated that the water evaporated into smoky wisps. Footsteps stopped in front of her. With much effort, Aiedo rose and stood on limbs that threatened to give out at any moment. She looked down at Alva, and Alva looked up at her. Alva was smirking as she pulled on the strings of her dress.

"Yes," she said, the clothing dropping to her feet, "you will do nicely."