Darkness Rises When Life is Preserved – Part 1

The trip back to Whiterun was taking longer than anticipated due to weather. A storm had rolled in and Drak'qur had decided that it would have been best to stop at Anduniel's new Meadary where there were rooms upstairs, just in case they had stopped by on a trip through. Anduniel, when Drak'qur was out on solo tasks, would go to her Meadary to check on things. It was actually doing well despite its location. The door to the upper level was shut to allow the two to sleep. Drak'qur was sleeping on and off. But nothing that was considered restful. He lay on his side, watching Anduniel sleep. She looked so peaceful. She was so beautiful. How had he been so blessed? Anduniel rolled over and pressed up against him. Sighing contentedly in her sleep. Drak'qur put his arm over her and pulled her tight to him. He would never let her go. He ran the back of his fingers over her soft cheek. When he pulled his hand away, he looked at it. Only days ago he allowed himself to transform into his true form. The form of the Vampire Lord. Claws and fangs. Wings, sort of, and power. Such power he gleamed from the night. It only augmented the power he wielded from the Soul Cairn. The part that scared him the most was…that he liked it. Destroying the Hagravens with his sheer power. For a moment, he lost himself to the form. That above all scared him the most. And he knew that would happen. It was part of the reason he resisted ever transforming. What the hell was he now? There was a word for it. It was right beneath the skin what he was. Unleashing the rage while the beast. He felt it deep within. A monster. Most people would call him a monster. But what would that make Anduniel? She could transform as well now. But she was able to overcome the wolf because of him. Perhaps she could help him now?

Drak'qur was pulled from his thoughts by a soft kiss on the lips. He looked down to see Anduniel smiling up from him, her head laying back down on the pillow. "My love? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't wake me, husband. But you're doing it again." She said quietly. "Something has you concerned."

"Mm. A few days ago, during your…transformation, in the heat of my hunt to help you," He started. "I allowed myself to let go of my restrictions. Let go of my inhibitions and allowed myself to become the Vampire Lord. Something I have fought very hard to not let happen."

Anduniel rested her head on her hand. "Why?"

"Because of my fear of what would happen. And that fear came true. I liked it." He shook his head. He could see Anduniel give him that look of, 'And that is what I learned days ago, why should it be different for you?' "As a wolf, your hunt in natural. As a Vampire Lord, mine is…less than pleasant. I require the blood of the living. The potion has held it off as long as I never transformed."

"Alright, so. Now you're starting to feel the hunger for blood?" She asked. Not accusatory but trying to help him piece together a solution.

"Yes." He looked at her. He always felt that together, they could come up with any solution. Perhaps with what happened, they could hunt together. "I just do not want to hurt innocents. I will always fight that desire."

"I think the solution is easy enough. I've noticed you can go without taking the potion for a few days." She smiled slightly.

"Yes, three days, possibly four. But by then I will become blood-starved." He nodded.

"Well, there are no shortage of bandits and Forsworn. Plus, I'm sure guards during investigation would welcome the help of a Vampire Lord." Anduniel interjected as an afterthought.

"The guards do have an issue with Vampires." Drak'qur arched an eyebrow.

"Do they need to see you question them?" She asked.

"Some might." He wasn't sure where this was going, but he waited patiently.

"Well, starting in a couple of days, we'll both start to hunt out in the wilds." She smiled up at him. "I need practice with the wolf in me. And at the same time, we'll get the Vampire Lord in you under control. We'll do this together."

Drak'qur kissed her. "You are a gift sent by the Eight." He thought for a second. "There was one thing I wanted to speak to you about."

"Mm?" Anduniel smiled.

"I know we are trying to have children. But…for the time being, I wondered if…if you wished to adopt a child." He ran his fingers over her cheek.

Her smiled only widened. "I would love that. I would love a daughter." She thought a second. "But where would we adopt from?"

"After we returned to Whiterun, and you were home safe, I would go to Riften. There is an orphanage there." Drak'qur knew of the orphanage's name, but little of the children there.

"Well, why don't I stay here? I'm safe here. Provided no dragons fly overhead." Anduniel rolled on top of Drak'qur. "Besides, what better place to make a child feel at home than near a beautiful lake?"

Drak'qur smiled. "You are a shrewd negotiator, my dear wife."

Anduniel lowered herself onto Drak'qur as the two made love to each other again.

Later that day, Anduniel helped around her Meadary and Drak'qur had left for Riften. The carriage ride from Falkreath took less than a day for him to get there. As he entered Riften, he headed towards Honorhall Orphanage. He was still in full armor and carried his weapons on his back. As he quietly stepped into the orphanage, he heard a conversation going on.

"Listen up, you little riff-raff." Grelod, the Headmistress started to say. "If the chores are not done, if any one of you shirk your duties, there will be extra beatings."

Drak'qur had not entered the area where the children were. He stayed near a table by the door. How the hell could a woman treat children so poorly? The runes on his armor started to glow angrily and his fists started to clench.

"No one will ever adopt you. You're not wanted. I am the only one who's provided a roof over your head. Now what do you say?" Grelod glared at the children.

"Thank you, Madame Grelod." The children said dejectedly.

The eyes of Drak'qur's eyes glowed violently. 'Death' was the only word that came to his mind. He palmed a dagger in his left hand. And watched as Grelod entered the other room where he stood.

Seeing him she walked up to him. "Yes? What do you want?" Something about this armored person was familiar, Grelod thought to herself.

Drak'qur said nothing. But with one move, dropped the dagger into his hand and drove it into her midsection. The runes and the eyes of his armor glowing with power. Grelod's eyes went wide as he spoke quietly to her. "For your desecration of these children's lives, your soul will find its place within the Soul Cairn. No longer will you hurt anyone with your vile tongue." Her soul entered a soul gem in his pouch. He withdrew the dagger as the last few wisps of souls energy faded. Grelod's body fell to the floor in a slump. As Constance came around the corner from the children's area, she saw Grelod's body slump to the floor, and the shadowed image of Drak'qur's armored form. He looked at Constance briefly and touched the ring on his finger, his body being consumed by the shadows. Constance screamed as Drak'qur disappeared from view. Drak'qur did hear something before he left from the children as they came running out.

"Grelod the Kind is dead! Aventus did it! He said he would use the Black Sacrament and he did it!" The children actually seemed happy the woman was dead. Drak'qur couldn't have blamed them he supposed. When things settled down, he would have to return here. He didn't think the other woman got a good look at him. Just the shadows that pulled around him which blurred how he looked.

But this Aventus child…he would have to look into this. He left Riften under the cover of the shadows. He did some questioning of guards and people, learning that Aventus lived in Windhelm. Upon finally locating where Aventus was, he walked into the home Aventus returned to. He quietly walked up the stairs hearing Aventus. "Sweet mother, sweet mother send your child unto me. For the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear." He pounded the floor. "Night Mother, how long must I do this?"

Drak'qur stepped up behind him. "Aventus?" He asked.

Aventus spun around. "You're here! It worked! The Black Sacrament worked!"

Drak'qur just looked at him. So using the Black Sacrament is supposed to allow one of the Dark Brotherhood to appear?

"Now you can accept my contract." Aventus continued.

"Contract?" Drak'qur questioned.

"Yes, you're one of the Dark Brotherhood. You have to accept my contract." Aventus was still smiling.

"I don't think I am who you think I am." Drak'qur tried to assure him.

"Of course you are. I performed the Sacrament and now you're here." Aventus was absolutely sure Drak'qur was of the Brotherhood.

Drak'qur didn't want to try to convince him otherwise at this point. For the simple reason that he spoke of the Night Mother. Perhaps if he saw this through, he would get answers that Cicero could not answer. Or would not answer. "Very well. What is your contract?" He asked.

"My mother, she…died. And I was sent to that orphanage in Riften. Honorhall. But I hated it there. That woman, Grelod the Kind. She was mean. And treated all of us terribly! I want her dead." Aventus was almost crying thinking of the memories.

Drak'qur held up his hand. "The woman you speak of has had her life ended already by my hands."

"Really?!" Aventus' face brightened. "Wow. I mean, I knew the Dark Brotherhood was good. But…you're like…really good! You killed her before I even asked. Just…wow." He looked over at a table. "I know it's not much. But this is my family heirloom. Take this as payment. I know it'll sell for a lot."

Drak'qur hated taking something that may have reminded Aventus of his mother. But…instead of insulting him, he accepted his payment. Drak'qur left Windhelm in silence. He made his way to the bridge overlooking the river that passed by Windhelm. He looked at the water. The runes and eyes of his armor glowing dimly. He wasn't opposed to murder, provided it did not harm innocents. From his studies, the Dark Brotherhood didn't differentiate. Part of him didn't want to search out the Dark Brotherhood. But he needed answers. The Dark Brotherhood would search him out. And he did not want to be near Anduniel when they found him. He didn't want her hurt. It was coming close to the day when he would become blood-starved. He headed into the wilds and came upon a bandit camp. He would have to practice with his Vampire Lord form. Best to do it here. The more important part, was that a Nord woman was bound and stuffed in a tent. He heard her crying. The look on her face from where he could see was that these bandits, who were all men, had taken advantage of her. He remembered what Anduniel had said about bandits. 'All they care about is loot and booty. Mostly the kind that spreads her legs, however unwilling she is.' Drak'qur stepped out from the shadows.

The Bandit leader stood. "Who are you?" Drak'qur had said nothing. "Doesn't matter I guess. That's some nice armor you got. Think we'll just kill you and take it from you. The bandits all laughed.

Drak'qur's eyes glowed slightly. The moon was high in the night sky. And then it happened. He let himself touch the Vampire Lord in him. His body pulsed power a moment. The bandits stopped laughing. Drak'qur's transformation happened quickly. He hovered above the ground and then lowered himself, glaring at the bandits.

The bandits drew their weapons. "Kill the Vampire!" They charged at him.

Drak'qur didn't fight the Vampire Lord. But, like Anduniel, he let both Vampire Lord and himself meld together. The Vampire Lord having access to his fighting style. And Drak'qur having access to his power. As the first bandit got near him. He sidestepped and grabbed the man's arm, twisting it, forcing the bandit to drop his weapon. And then bit into him, tearing his throat out and drinking the blood. He then focused on the second and third. Both circling him. He couldn't make the first move. He's risk losing his guarded position and leaving himself open. Thankfully he didn't have to. The Bandit Leader lunged at him. Drak'qur didn't have the same mobility in this form, but he did have the strength to offset what he lost. As the leader tried to slice at him, Drak'qur used his life siphoning magic to weaken the leader, meanwhile using the Night magic in his other hand to raise the fallen bandit as his thrall. The fallen bandit went after the third bandit, who was screaming in terror at this point seeing his friend resurrected from the dead. The Bandit Leader fell to his knees being weakened from Drak'qur's magic. Drak'qur lifted the leader off the ground, bearing his fangs. As he spoke, he noticed his voice was different. Almost having the same accent as Harkon had. But his mind was his own. "You've taken your last prisoner. Your soul to the Soul Cairn. Your life is mine." Drak'qur bit down into the neck of the leader, drinking his blood and killing him. Drak'qur let the body fall to the ground. His hunger was satisfied. The thrall he raised had killed the third bandit. The thrall turned to ash as its time in this world passed. Drak'qur walked over to the woman and with his claws, severed the ropes tying her hands behind her. "You're safe now." He said.

She sat up and looked at Drak'qur. She had no energy to scream. When they raped her, she was weak, tired. "Are you going to kill me?" She asked, tears still in her eyes.

Drak'qur shook his head. "No. I don't kill innocent people."

The woman looked at him, confused at first. Then kindly. "Thank you. A Vampire that didn't kill indiscriminately. A first for everything I guess?"

Drak'qur smirked sheepishly. "Actually, you were the first test of my ability to control myself in this form. And I apologize for that. But…"

"No. It's alright. You saved me and to me, that's all that matters right now. I'm just…so tired. I hurt so much." She wanted to lay down.

Drak'qur stood and touched the power in him to turn back into his normal form. Upon turning back, he knelt down and picked the woman up. "Let me get you back to Windhelm and get you to a healer." The woman rested her head on his shoulder and put her arms around his neck. She actually fell asleep in his arms.

Drak'qur got to the temple in Windhelm. He kicked the door in and the priests of Kinareth ran up over to Drak'qur. "This woman needs healing."

"What happened to her?" One of the priests asked.

"She was a captive of one of the bandit groups. No idea who, but they aren't a threat anymore." Drak'qur gently set her down.

"Thank you, my child. We will see to her." The priests started to cast their healing spells.

Drak'qur knowing she was safe now left the Temple. He spent the night in Windhelm. When he woke up, and was walking the streets the next day, a courier ran up to him, mentioning he had a letter for him. "Who is it from?" Drak'qur asked.

"Don't know. Some guy in a black robe and hood. Didn't say anything other than, make sure this gets to the Warlord." The courier looked in his pack. "That's it. Have a good day, sir."

Drak'qur opened the letter. It had a single handprint and the words. 'We know'. "Good." Drak'qur said.

Later that day, Drak'qur left Windhelm and made camp in the wilds in The Pale. As the night passed and the morning started to arrive, Drak'qur lay back on his bedroll. He had just closed his eyes as he felt a hand on his arm. "I had started to wonder when one of you might show up." He sat up and saw the garbed woman.

"Hm. A daywalker?" Astrid asked.

"That's not quite the point now is it?" Drak'qur looked at her.

Astrid snickered. "Quite."

"Then let's just cut to the chase, shall we?" Drak'qur was in no mood for games with the Dark Brotherhood. He wanted answers.

"Very well. The Aretino contract was the Dark Brotherhood's contract. And you stole that kill." She studied Drak'qur, but she couldn't see his face through his helmet. "I'm not criticizing, it was a good kill. The old crone had it coming. But still, you stole the kill. A small problem."

"To you, perhaps." Drak'qur said flatly.

"I see a remedy to this. Follow me." Astrid headed towards her horse.

Drak'qur packed up his camp and summoned Arvak. He followed Astrid to an abandoned shack. Once he entered, Astrid locked the door and pocketed the key. Drak'qur looked to the back of the shack to see three people with sacks on their heads. He looked at Astrid.

Astrid perched herself on the book shelf, dangling her left leg off and getting comfortable. "One of those three have a contract out on them. You just have to figure out which one."

"And I take it you telling me which one it is won't happen, correct?" Drak'qur was keeping straight to the point.

"Oh no no no, it doesn't work that way." She smiled under her mask. "But chose the one you think has the contract out on them and kill them, I'll give you the key to the shack and you'll be free to go."

"You do realize that I can just as easily end your life right here? You do realize who I am?" Drak'qur wasn't tolerating her bravado.

"Of course. But had you wanted to, you would have done so already. You want something from us. I'm just going to see here and admire your work." Astrid again smirked.

But damn she was good. Drak'qur gave a slight nod and turned to the three prisoners. He walked up behind them, starting with the Khajiit. He quietly drew his blades. He got to one knee behind the Khajiit. "Tell me who you are, Khajiit."

"I am Vasha. Perhaps you have heard of me? Murderer, defiler of daughters and all around a bad person? Perhaps I will let my people carve my name into your corpse." The Khajiit had some gall.

The second description had not settle well with Drak'qur. He crossed his blades over the back of the Khajiit's neck.

"Wait! Let me live and…" The Khajiit went silent as his head was taken off. Astrid had noticed Drak'qur's reaction to when Vasha said 'Defiler of daughters'. She made note that Drak'qur cared for family. And any threatening of family or desecration of the sanctity of that institution, or even taking advantage of a woman caused an ill-fated reaction in him.

Drak'qur moved to the second victim. A woman. As he spoke to her, he found she had a family. A bad attitude, but she was a mother with six children and no husband. He patted her shoulder and whispered in her ear. "Be thankful to whatever god you believe in. Your children will not lose their mother. But take this second chance for all that it is worth. Failure to do so will result in my return. And I will know." He squeezed her shoulder in the warning.

Astrid was right in her watching of his reactions. It was leverage, but to threaten him with it was dangerous. He was still just a man. But a man with morals.

The last was a sell-sword. A mercenary. But as Drak'qur listened to his tale, he could tell he was repentant. He didn't want to die. Drak'qur whispered in the man's covered ear. "I will give you this one warning, mercenary. Turn from the path you followed. Find a new life to live. Should I ever feel a soul in the Soul Cairn that should not be there, yours will join theirs." He gave the merc's shoulder a squeeze, making the warning known to the merc.

Drak'qur stood and walked over to Astrid. But said nothing. He just stood there. Astrid enjoyed the show. But she learned a lot about Drak'qur. Family and redemption where his morals. He believed if someone wanted to change, they would. He would kill, but only when it was justified. And when it was, he would kill to ensure the threat was fully eliminated. Astrid smiled at him. "The conniving Khajiit. Cat like that was sure to have enemies. It's no wonder you chose him."

"Do not pretend to know me. The task is complete. The key." He held his hand out.

Astrid tossed him the key. "As promised. But, I would like to extend you an invitation to join the Dark Brotherhood. Our Sanctuary is just outside of Falkreath near that new Meadary that just went up a few months back."

'Oh no…' He thought. 'How could I not have noticed the door?!' The runes on his armor and the eyes of his helmet ignited in power.

The glow was not missed by Astrid. "Ahhh, so you know the owner?"

"I will give you fair warning. No one, and I mean no one that is in that Meadary or the owner will be harmed. Should that happen…" He clenched his fists.

Astrid raised her hand. "We know your wife owns it. But don't worry, she's safe. Play your cards right, and she'll always be protected. Now, when asked by the door: What is the music of life? Answer: Silence, my brother."

"Very well." Was all Drak'qur said. He unlocked the door and left the shack. There was going to be no hiding this from Anduniel.