"Are you alright?" Hircine said quickly.
"No! No, I'm not! This.. this was the closest I ever had been t-to losing it Hircine…! B-Boethiah...she stole my first kiss…" Vile whined in a shuttered response.
Hircine looked at Vile with this strange look of anger and oddly hunger. Vile's old feelings of comfort around Hircine faded into a horrible urge to cower and flee.
"She kissed you?!" Hircine repeated back with a low growl, using his thumb to wipe the black lipstick from Vile's lips as it earned a shiver from Vile.
"Y-yea…" Vile cried back.
"Hey now don't cry! A daedric prince shouldn't…!" Hircine growled out but cut himself off when he saw it wasn't helping.
Vile felt like he was a mess now. He was still on the farthest corner of his bed, practically crying. He pulled away from Hircine's grasp on his chin and curled up, leaning against the stone wall. His neck was aching as the new cuts bled. Hircine was in front of him, standing tall with his chin up high as he looked down at Vile. He was lit up from the light coming from the window as it outlined his body perfectly.
"I want Barbas…" Vile whined.
"I know you do, but we still need to track him down, Vile." Hircine responded calmly.
"I can't take much more, Hircine! We need to find where he actually is and get him back!" Vile burted out.
"Isn't that what we are doing?!" Hircine growled.
"I… I know but-"
Hircine place his left hand over Vile's mouth and growled louder, "No buts… we're trying the best we can but, from what I gather from you, if another prince has him then they're concealing him well."
Vile stayed silent and looked down upset but he couldn't help wonder. He started to think that maybe Barbas was mistaken or that he misheard him. He tried to remember the exact words Barbas had told him but he couldn't think straight.
"Vile...Hey Vile!" Hircine shouted at him, patting Vile's right cheek.
"...what?"
"Let me ask you this, where do you get your information from?" Hircine questioned, narrowing his eyes at him while pinching his cheek.
"Vile…"
"Yea…?"
"I need an answer...!" Hircine spat, leaning closer to his face.
"...from places…"
"Like…?"
Vile sighed and grabbed onto Hircine's hand, tugging it to let him go. Hircine kept his grip and tightened it much to Vile's discomfort. He could feel it leaving a bruise as Hircine tugged his face even closer to his, their faces barely touching.
"Like what places Vile…!?" Hircine whispered in a harsh, dark tone.
"Like…like...oww! Let me go..!" Vile whimpered at Hircine's pinch as he tightened it.
"Spit it out!" Hircine raised his voice.
"Barbas ok?! I get it from him! Now let my cheek go..! It hurts…"
Hircine was silent. He let go of Vile's cheek and slowly back away, straightening himself out. Vile rubbed his cheek, whimpering and staring up at Hircine. Vile was beginning to regret choosing Hircine to help him. This whole scene made Vile shuffle nervously.
"I...see." Hircine muttered, looking away from Vile.
"Is… is that a problem?" Vile asked to break this weird situation.
"How do you speak to him if he's not here…?" Hircine asked with a new curiosity in his tone.
"How?! He was a part of me, Hircine! We have a special connection! We can talk thro-…" Vile stuttered his speak, unsure if he should even say it.
"Through what?"
"...through our thoughts…"
He could almost see a smile crease upon that bony face of Hircine's as he chuckled quietly. Vile looked at him and tilted confused.
"Well then… that makes a terrible amount of sense! Why were you so scared of telling me that? That doesn't hurt you at all! Just adds clarity to a mystery." Hircine smiled and patted Vile's head.
Vile felt somewhat relieved that Hircine wasn't angry anymore. He just let Hircine pet him and when he was done he placed his head in his hands. Whether he liked it or not, he needed Hircine's help and he will just have to deal with Hircine's...quirks.
"But that gives me an idea… if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna return to my Hunting Grounds to prepare it. I'll summon you once I'm done!"
Before Vile could give an answer, Hircine disappeared quickly through a portal. He sat alone in his room for awhile, thinking. He suddenly felt a strange presence. It felt like someone was watching him again. It felt the same 'eyes on your back' feeling he felt before Sanguine started his assault. He shook his head, adding that to his growing list of unpleasant circumstances.
"Why did this have to happen to me…" Vile whined softy.
Vile could feel the blood from his wound crusting on his skin after a while. He couldn't go outside, especially if his Skaafin are there. He looks so beat up right now that a wave of panic could spread in his realm. He just hugged his knees to his chest and placed his head on them.
"Barbas...where are you..? I want you here… I want you home…" Vile practically cried to himself.
M-Master…?
"B-Barbas?!" Vile shot his head up.
Master are... Y-you ok?
Vile was silent for a moment before smiling softly, responding, "Yea… yea I'm ok now… what about you? Are you ok?"
I don't know… I can't see to tell if I'm wounded badly or not but I do ache all over… I wish I was home…
"Yea, I wish you were too.." Vile whispered, still smiling as he enjoyed this moment of listening to Barbas.
Master, have you come close to finding me yet..?
Vile sighed, "No… not yet… Barbas are you sure you're in a daedric realm?"
I have to be, master! No mortal can pull off a stunt this grand without another prince...
"True…"
Master… I don't know how much more I can… can take of this… I hate it!
"Believe me, Barbas... I know… I can't take much more either…" Vile spoke softly back.
I know… I could feel your...
"Stress..?" Vile finished for Barbas.
*Chuckles* Yes master! You're stressed… You shouldn't worry so much about little ol' me!
Vile chuckled with Barbas and whispered, "How could I when you're gone for so long?"
Oh dear, master! Is that sympathy I hear?
Vile smiled wider and responded teasingly, "Maybe~!"
Master I-
"You what Barbas…?"
"Barbas…?"
Is that…?
"Is that what?"
Master… I hear howling…
Vile turned pale and blinked, saying, "Howling of…?"
… oh no… he's here! The one who...took me awa-
Barbas was cut off. Vile felt like his connection with Barbas was blocked off or worse. It felt like it was severed and couldn't feel Barbas's presence anymore. Vile could feel the tear roll down his cheeks. From what Barbas last said, Vile didn't want to consider it but the new evidence was present.
"He's getting tortured… there is screaming and now howling… and it is hot… then Barbas is truly in…" Vile cried to himself.
He didn't want to say it but he had to confirm it to himself. Rushing thoughts came to his head at this. Thoughts of why and how. He felt sick at this new revelation and it brought more tears than he ever wanted. Betrayal hit his heart hard and he stuttered his speech as he tried to speak the answer to himself.
"... The Hunting Grounds…"
