Dark Embrace

by mfait matresse

The life of the Dragonborn takes a dark turn when she and Serana are discovered in the Volkihar courtyard. The prophecy is the last thing on the Dragonborn's mind when she awakens in chains in front of the lord of the castle. Harkon/F!Dragonborn fic. Full warnings inside.

36. Fragile in Design

An: I know this is a little later than normal, but considering the length and all the content, I hope you understand! I'm not sure if it's my longest chapter, but it's defiantly up there. Please leave me your thoughts with this chapter, since it took a lot of effort on my end and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all the feedback from the last chapter, you guys. It means a lot to me, you really have no idea. Thank you to everyone, reading, reviewing and following this story!

Looking through her belongings, Elvi tried to think of what she might need for her journey. Come to think of it...what did she really need? The journey meant nothing. Her weapons meant nothing. Nor did her strength, armor and health. She was supposed to let Janus kill her. She could be a thousand times stronger than her elder vampire target, but it didn't matter. She would have to provoke him into using his dark powers, then simply...allow him to rip her to shreds. Instinct told her otherwise. It was natural. When someone tried to kill you, no matter the being, your first reaction was defense. It would take more strength in her battle to refrain from defending herself, than anything else. She thought she was numb after Serana's betrayal...now she truly knew the definition of numb. Even in the few moments she was allowed to be alone, she didn't cry. Elvi couldn't bring herself to cry. When she felt the despair and heartache the likes of which she was currently feeling, crying didn't help. It only hurt deeper. She doubted anything could take the overwhelming pain away from her. She never imagined she would so willingly walk to her death the way that she was now. The only thing she could hope for, were her death to arrive, that it would be in some blaze of glory. A very dignified and noble death. With a sigh she fastened her swords at her hips, and tried to calm her thoughts. As pointless as her attempt was. What use was there in dwelling on it? She had made her decision. Or more so, it had been made for her. It was fitting if you thought about it. Very few times in her life she was granted a choice so, why not have her last choice be her own death?

The hardest part, was acting like everything was okay. Pretending like this wasn't going to be the last time she saw Harkon, Darius, anyone anymore. Trying to keep herself in an optimistic mood she looked at it as a good thing. This way she had time to make her peace. Something she never imagined she would have, being a warrior. It was difficult, and with each passing second Elvi was afraid she would lose her nerve, but she wouldn't cower from this. She made her choice, she had to keep reminding herself that. So the very least she could do, was face it with some dignity. When Harkon left her alone in his chambers for a short while, she took the opportunity to do something she had been planning to do for days now. She had just made it back downstairs to the fireplace when he returned. It was nice that he hadn't caught her and that his impeccable timing was slightly off tonight. The small smile on his face was the reminder of why it was worth it. She'd be losing everything, but she would be giving him everything. Knowing this, gave her strength. To know that all her past schemes and effort, was now being atoned for. It allowed her face him with a clean slate and as heartbroken as she was, being in his mere presence was now, an even more joyous feeling than before. Harkon remained suspicious...she knew he would be. When he saw the look on her face, he questioned

"What's on your mind?" Thinking of something, anything she could say to deflect his line of questioning Elvi responded,

"Oh...it's silly really. The vampire Janus Hassildor is hiding somewhere close to Helgen. One of the few villages in Skyrim that isn't normally covered in snow. I find it a shame. I know it's not exactly rare to watch the snow fall in Skyrim, but I miss it. It hasn't snowed here, since I arrived at the castle. I love the snow. You'd think I would be sick of it, but I always found snow to be very beautiful. As a child I would stare out of the window for hours just watching the way it glistened in the light, or I'd rush outside to try and catch as many snowflakes as I could with my tongue. The simple sight of snow fall, used to comfort me." Elvi explained. It flowed easily off of her tongue because it wasn't a lie at all. She did enjoy the snow, more than most Nords did. She actually thought about making arrangements so that she would be buried in Windhelm, or Dawnstar, places that snow always touched. Shame she never worked that out. Sure snow bugged her sometimes when she was traveling a far distance or when she left a tavern after getting nice and warm by the fire, but she couldn't hold her annoyance for it long. Not when she could marvel at the snowflakes individual patterns, or felt it's cold kiss on her skin. When the wind picked up, was when she enjoyed it the most. To see the little crystals dance in front of her very eyes, was an occurrence in nature that she couldn't get enough of. Harkon smiled a small smile at her, and she felt her heart break a little bit more. Harkon always enjoyed the little quirks that Elvi was made up of. How she spoke of the snow resembled the way most women would describe expensive jewelry. Not Elvi, the woman was happy and grateful for anything she was given. It made spoiling her easy, and seeing her reaction was always satisfying. Funny how seeing things through his progeny's eyes made him look at everything in a completely different light.

"Hm, I never thought of snow in such a way. Perhaps when you return home, we can watch the snow fall together? It would be pleasant, for such a simple sight to provide me comfort as well. Considering how much you enjoy it." Harkon replied. Hoping that Elvi's attitude might alter a bit if he gave her something to look forward too. He assumed that it all had to be nervousness, which he understood since so much depended on her success, but in all honesty the task she was given was far more minor than he had anticipated. For that, he was thankful. When all she did was flash him a small smile, he sighed. That lingering sorrow remained in her eyes. She couldn't hide her emotions from him, even if he couldn't feel them for himself. Those eyes were always a dead give away into her internal feelings. He pressed forward anyway,

"Have you prepared properly dearest? Since you are meant to journey alone, I'd prefer it if you traveled with as much moonlight as possible. Remember, you are not truly protected by Lord Molag Bal, until you have completed the task. So Hircine's dogs could still be on the hunt for you. You're an experienced warrior Elvi, and I have the up most faith in you along with your abilities. Just know that I advise you to use extreme caution everywhere you go. Don't worry, the time for revenge will come. I assure you that Hircine will not get away with causing our lives to be filled with bitter dismay. The hunting grounds will be filled with many of his sons and daughters before everything comes to a conclusion. The only thing you need concern yourself with, is staying off the mutt's trail and fulfilling what was asked of you." That blazing confidence in his voice shook her to the very core. Little did the vampire lord know, Molag Bal had no intention of protecting her whatsoever.

"Hircine and his followers won't claim my soul, Harkon. I promise." Elvi said with assurance. Which sadly was the truth. She knew if she didn't force herself out of the door now, it would be that much harder on her, when she did leave. With a fake smile that could win several awards, she stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around Harkon's neck. Taking a few moments to admire his eyes, to melt under his touch and become intoxicated with his scent. Things she felt she had taken advantage of, up until now. The little things, were what really made her feel as attached to the man as she was. They mattered a lot to her. When she brought her lips to his, she never wanted to pull away. Knowing she couldn't stay in his arms like she wanted, Elvi decided to enjoy the kiss for everything it was worth. She wanted to whimper when she felt that this was one of the rare occurrences that Harkon was warm. Obviously not as much as a human but it was still very nice, compared to the deadly cold his skin normally felt like. A sharp knife to her heart, as if it was only to taunt her. When she pulled away and showed her smile to him, she couldn't bear it anymore. She whispered a quick goodbye and walked away from him. Her hand lingered in his until she was to far away to hold his anymore. A part of her wondered why he kept his hand clasped around hers. Was it because he didn't want her to go either? She knew Harkon had said his own goodbye to her but she refused to hear it. Knowing that if she heard his final farewell, it would cripple all the effort she was making, for him. It was okay. She would never see the future Harkon desired, but he would. He would have everything he wanted, so she could find some sort of peace in the afterlife in that. Hopefully...she didn't know anything of the realm Molag Bal reined in, but after only speaking to the deity once, she knew it wouldn't be pleasant.

Once she was a decent distance away from Harkon's chambers, she let out long exasperated sigh. Things weren't exactly going to be easier from here...but there was no avoiding it. There was still two things she had to do before stepping foot outside of the castle. She walked down the hallway she had memorized by heart and paused before continuing. She still wasn't sure what words she could say, or what could be said, but she couldn't just walk away in such a permanent fashion without...something.

Casually she leaned on Serana's door frame. Noticing that she was standing in front of her dresser, fiddling with one of her jewelry boxes. The mirror Elvi had broken after she awoke as a vampire still hadn't been replaced, but in a way it was kind of nice. Maybe the small...more unfortunate things, could be little reminders of her presence in the castle. Vampires had eternity, after all so she knew she would fade drastically from memory in no time. Serana turned around and jumped back a bit in surprise. Elvi was the last person she expected to see, but of course it was always her hope. Elvi's face was back to her stone, unmoved one, which was a flashing warning sign but she would take whatever she could get from Elvi. Unsure if she should move closer to her or not, Serana remained where she stood.

"Hey..." Serana said after a few moments of silence. Scolding herself for her lack of words. She didn't know what to say, it was hard to judge where exactly she stood with Elvi. Of course after everything she had done, she really should of produced a better response than 'hey'!

"Hey." it was strange, Serana didn't really expect her to answer. If Elvi wanted to hate her for the rest of her existence, well she had every right to. It was nice to know they were already on speaking terms. Serana was trying to come up with some kind of small talk, when Elvi entered her room. She stopped when she was only a few feet away from Serana. After Elvi stared into her eyes for what felt like an eternity she said

"I forgive you, Serana." Serana's heart lifted but she felt a little concerned, since Elvi's voice was very flat and lacked any kind of emotion.

"I know why you did what you did, I understand. But, what you need to understand is, though I forgive you, I am still very, very angry with you. I'm in no way ready to try and be around you like I used to be, but you need to know, that I still forgive you."

Once again, flat and forward. It made Serana extremely happy despite the lack of emotions on Elvi's end. All these subtle hints, was a sign that there was hope. Something Serana thought she had lost when she initially made her awful mistake. So she wouldn't question it, whatsoever. She would let Elvi take as much time as she needed. If that's what it took to gain her trust back, she'd bare it.

"It's okay, I'm angry with myself too. I understand, Elvi. I'll give you as much space as you need, I just want you to give me another chance. That's all I ask." Serana said as sincerely as she could so that Elvi would know how much she meant to her. Elvi nodded, but to Serana's surprise she watched Elvi pull her amulet of Talos free, from under her shirt and take it completely off of her neck. Serana hadn't seen Elvi wear her amulet of Talos in a very long time. That difference alone was a little...odd. What made the entire situation a little more strange was seeing Elvi...extending her hand to her. Her palm was the amulet and Serana looked from the object to Elvi in great confusion. Elvi repeated the gesture Serana made, by looking from the amulet, to Serana's eyes. Only afterward she insisted

"Take it." it as a bold and commanding change in her tone. Serana's eyes widened and from that second forward, she began to suspect that something was more than a little off with Elvi. She had seen Elvi dive into a freezing cold lake, when that particular amulet had fallen off of her neck during a battle. For an hour she spent searching for it. Serana knew the importance of the simple amulet. She didn't understand. Elvi wouldn't give her amulet of Talos away for anything. She didn't quite understand...her reasoning for this.

"I can't take that, Elvi. I know how much that means to you, it belonged to your father." Serana retorted. Elvi let yet another bitter smile form on her face when she heard Kodlak being referred to as her father. Still she shook her head and forced the amulet in Serana's hands. Taking her fingers and pushing them to hold onto the amulet.

"Just hold onto this for me, okay? If anyone should look after this...it's you. You were the closest friend I've ever had and I appreciate everything you've done for me. So just keep it safe for me, I don't like the idea of it sitting around in a chest somewhere." Elvi insisted. She couldn't stay in the castle much longer and she honestly didn't want to put up with any questioning or concerned looks. She just wanted to make her peace and be done with it. None of this was meant to provide her comfort but the ones that had touched her life. Since she was given the chance to make things right before she died. Sensing her haste, Serana sighed. She took it as a sign of her trust and thinking along those lines and not the more...negative ones it gave her some added relief. It was kind of like...a promise, that things were going to eventually be back to normal between them. So, she carefully took Elvi's amulet and placed it in her pocket.

"I'll keep, it safe. I promise. Thank you for placing that faith in me." Serana said, taking the chance to grip Elvi by her shoulder. Elvi shot her a weak smile and nodded. It was sad to see Elvi immediately turning around after that, and head for the door. Then again, she had promised to give her space and time so she didn't hinder her. Before Elvi walked out of the door she added

"Take care Serana." a simple goodbye, but it was all she could muster. Were goodbyes ever this hard before? She couldn't remember, if it ever was. Though Elvi wasn't thinking properly and hadn't since her dreadful time in the cathedral. It was almost as though it was a defensive move her mind made for her unwillingly. It was trying to prevent her from spiraling into the crippling depression that threatened to overcome her at any moment. With a sigh she continued to her next target. As she predicted, he was down where the coffins resided. Sitting at the table with Stalf on one side and another male vampire she knew not the name of, on his other. At her approach Darius raised his goblet of blood to her, signature smirk on his face. Somehow Elvi knew he was finally back to full health. A miracle that he reached this point, at all. At the time, she really did believe she had lost him. Only for the tables to turn later on and he would be the one losing her. It somehow made this goodbye almost as difficult as the one she had said to Harkon. Because Darius had almost died to save her life. Then she willingly gave it away, after his sacrifice. It was as though the gesture and all the pain he had went through, was now in vain. Subtly she gestured with her head for him to rise from his position and follow her. Once he did, she smirked with she noticed that the vampire had chosen to join her, but in one of his hands was his goblet of blood, and his other hand held his flask that she was certain carried a type of wine, due to the smell.

"Hey there babes, off on your big task are we?" Darius asked in his light hearted manner. By the slight slur in his Nordic accent she knew he was at least a little tipsy. Hm...that was probably for the best. Serana couldn't question her, because Elvi simply wouldn't allow her to. Knowing Serana owed her that privacy, she also knew Darius didn't owe her the same He had a way of knowing even sometimes guessing that something was wrong or out of sorts with her. If he was inebriated he'd be less aware of the subtle hints. There in the entrance way of the downstairs level they stood. Elvi leaning on one side and he the other, and she was a little surprised at how well he kept her eye contact, even after he had been drinking. She had nothing rehearsed for Darius. Every time she tried to consider something special to say to him, nothing came to mind. Their relationship was a little...abnormal. Even now that unknown tension seemed to circle around them, all the while Darius acted completely relaxed. When she looked back up at him, he gave her a quick wink. Something that used to drive her up the wall, but looking back...she couldn't remember why.

"Yes, I am. I'm about to head out now." Elvi replied as casually she could. It was so much easier around him but she wasn't sure why. She knew once Darius learned of her death he would be just as distraught as the others she had made her peace with. Still, it wasn't quite as painful. She didn't know exactly what the emotions or tension she felt around him was, or where it came from but now it looked as though she never would.

"Before I do though...I suppose I just wanted to say thank you again. You're an amazing friend Darius. And I think you could be that to a lot of other people...if you let yourself. So thank you for being there when I needed you, and I hope I have been able to reciprocate in some way. That you could look at me and value our friendship as much as I do."

"Well of course, golden girl. You know I value everything about you." Darius replied with his smirk. As he brought his flask to his lips, he noticed the deeper sadness hidden in Elvi's eyes, like Harkon had. He returned his flask to that special pouch on his belt, where he normally carried it along with any other device that might hold his alcohol for him. He blinked past the granted bliss he was given thanks to his belly being sufficiently full of mead. And wine...and blood...and tiny bit of skooma as well. Usually Skooma never did anything for him, but when mixed with the proper amount of alcohol...ahhhh, serenity. Only that briefly given ecstasy was being altered at the mere thought of something troubling Elvi. Obviously he had to correct this if he was going to continue about his night of drinking and merriment.

"Eh, what did I tell you about getting all mushy on me babes? You never have a reason to thank me, it's just what I do. What we do, we look after each other. Now this is never going to change so you will get awfully sick of thanking me, won't you? So for the last time, cut it out!" Darius jested. Ending his sentence by elegantly sticking his tongue out at her. Elvi's heart lifted, just slightly. Darius had a way about him that could bring her out of her funk, and perhaps it was selfish but now she wanted to leave on this note. It made it more likely, that the bit of ease she was granted would stay with her for a little while longer. Now she could do it, now she could leave. She had said what she mostly needed to say, and time wasn't granting her anything else. Not that any pain would be relieved from her, it was just a part of the process. She was sure, Molag Bal was reveling in her suffering that very second, knowing that she couldn't stop the pitfall of emotions. She wanted to, to spite him but the Prince of Dominance got what bargained for ten fold, if he desired her pain.

"So uh...oh hey! I'm back to normal, now! Want me to take you to this place to save you the trouble?" Darius offered when Elvi remained quiet. If he didn't know any better he could have sworn she was looking him up and down. Her eyes focused more on his face, than anything else however. Her strange actions, made him a little nervous but when she flashed him a smirk and shrugged he assumed the booze was just making him a little jittery. It had a bad tendency of that sometimes.

"No, it's alright. I may not be fulfilling my task if I have assistance in Lord Molag Bal's eyes. I'm destined to walk this one alone, my dear friend. Don't go getting yourself killed anytime in the near future, okay?" She kept her smirk but her lips being forced into such a false place so many times was literally hurting her, and before she knew it, she felt herself lunging forward. Wrapping her arms around Darius in a strong but comforting grip. Stunned and stumbling backwards, Darius attempted to hold her in return, but it was rather difficult when one of his hands held onto the goblet still. Attempting to wrap both his arms around her, without sloshing blood all over her was challenging, but he succeeded. Though it was a little less sincere than he wanted it to be, considering. Before he could really enjoy Elvi's warmth she pulled away. She smiled and said yet another quick and bland farewell. As she walked away she didn't stop when Darius called out to her but it did however make her mood turn sour once more. Alas...it was good while it lasted.

"Hurry back, babes. This stuffy old castle won't be the same while your away, so don't keep us waiting to long, okay? Watch your back out there!" Darius still couldn't shake the feeling that told him something was wrong, but carrying out a Daedric Prince's will could make anyone act strangely. The amount of pressure Elvi was feeling was more than likely weighing on her. If rumor was correct, if Elvi was successful, fortune may finally fall on the Volkihar clan. He knew he didn't want something that life altering, placed with him. Darius swore he only took his eyes off of her for a second, but when he looked back he watched the double doors of the castle close behind her. Darius frowned. She must be in a hurry...all well. The sooner she left, meant the sooner she could return. With that note Darius retrieved his flask from it's resting place and took a deep swig. Knowing he couldn't see Elvi's face for an undisclosed amount of time was bothersome. He'd have to replenish his supplies now that he could teleport. Something told him he would need a large amount of alcohol and other party favors to survive the wait, since he wasn't there to back her up as he normally was. With Orthjolf angry with him, Serana going through her bought with depression, Stalf being...well Stalf, and Harkon looking for any reason he could, to see his head from his neck, he wondered if Elvi knew just how sorely she would be missed.

Hours passed in the castle since Elvi's departure, and Harkon found himself restless already. A part of him had gotten so accustomed to having Elvi near, he expected for her to join him any minute. Taking her place next to him by the fireplace. When he realized that wasn't going to happen he found himself standing as close to the fire as he could, without burning his skin on the flames. Already he felt his skin growing cold and his heart returning to it's dead state. He hadn't felt it beat for a good while now, but it was an unfortunate necessity. A short time apart was a minimum price to pay, but he loathed the side effects such as these feelings. With such promises to be fulfilled, he assumed once he reached this stage he would find a tranquility at long last. His mind proved that it in fact wasn't the case. Harkon wondered if Elvi would come across the beasts on the road. She could handle it, but it might make her journey all the more hazardous. With as many hazards Elvi had already witnessed, the least she could be granted was a safe trip. That was not their way, though. Peace was not meant for them. Being masters of chaos, he supposed it was fitting. They were meant to fight through the odds and stand mightier than the other members of his kind. She would reflect nicely on him once she gained Molag Bal's favor. Harkon had to admit that he was somewhat envious of the Prince's ability to watch Elvi's bloodshed. He hadn't seen it with his own eyes for far to long now, so once he had a chance to remedy this he would. Mmm, Elvi would enjoy that. A welcome home, with delicious innocents waiting for her, to quench her thirst. He'd have to remember to address Rargal and task him with finding a few extra mortals to bring to the castle for the occasion. Staring down at the fire, with his arms crossed behind his back, he exhaled deeply.

His guests, including Durrand, had decided to stay in the castle a night or two longer and in all social graces, he should be out in the main hall and reliving favored memories with the priest. He didn't desire this just yet, however. He actually desired his solitude for a little while longer. He was weary. His body urged him to rest, and he didn't know what to think of it. He hadn't felt the need to sleep for centuries or more. Save...after his tender moments with Elvi, which then at least he was given an explanation. Now he had no idea why he would need sleep more now than any other day he lived. He turned around and headed towards his bed. If he gave in for a few short hours, perhaps this feeling would end. When he was tired, it reminded him of a weakness. Something he was without, so feeling as though he was plagued with a vulnerability, didn't improve his mood in the slightest. Normally his coffin is what he would seek in these rare times, but now that he had Elvi, he found more enjoyment in his bed. Perhaps he laid to rest as the mortals did in doing this, but in this trivial way he doubted he'd be looked down on. Most of the vampires he knew and respected actually slept far more often then he did to begin with. When he reached his bed, Harkon quickly realized that sleep wasn't a possibility any longer. He wondered if his haze of sleepiness made his sight altered...for surely there was no reason he would see the object that was laid on his sheets.

In a flash it was held in his hands. Cradled almost as if it was something precious and fragile that could fall apart on demand. Harkon's breath caught in his throat and his heart thumped a single beat in his chest. If he wasn't holding it in his very hands, he wouldn't have believed it. As sure as he was standing, he was now holding the sword that his brother once wielded in his mortal life. A sword he thought to be stolen from him, the culprit never discovered. As overwhelmed as he was to have his deceased brother's sword in his possession, he was more concerned with...where it had come from? He had checked the castle a thousand times over for this very sword and not once had he been successful. His initial thought was a very enraging one. That Serana, for whatever reason, had taken the sword thousands of years ago and felt the need to return it after all this time. His own daughter...she knew the real value and heritage of this sword, so if she had kept it from him for this long, it would be the push that forced him exile her from this castle. As much as he wanted to trust his daughter, there was no forgiveness to be found in this crime. Before he could dwell on his suspicions, he noticed a small detail, that was added to the sword. He was surprised he hadn't noticed it sooner. He may be baffled by the swords reappearance, but he still knew every single detail of this sword by memory. Every nick and scratch in the sheath, every etched design in both it and the blade it's self, everything. It was the only physical object he had left in this world, that belonged to Haldis. As much as he was filled with the tingling sensation of joy, it was overpowered by curiosity. In between the sheath and blade of the sword it looked like there was a...note of some sort? Carefully he pulled the bit of parchment free from the sheath, and flipped open it's fold with his thumb. Now...what the note stated was what really confused him. Written in charcoal in elegant handwriting read

To replace what you have lost

-Your Elvi

Harkon must have read the note a dozen times before he moved to sit on his bed, the side Elvi normally slept on. The sword was placed next to him but the note remained in his hand. He concentrated on the message that his progeny had left for him. It was...inconceivable. How could Elvi have been in possession of this? She may have known about his brother's existence and importance in to him, but Elvi wouldn't have any way of knowing that this particular sword had belonged to him. It would be the same as any other sword in her eyes. Harkon felt himself rise from his bed, after reading over the note a couple of more times, and with heavy and quick footsteps he found himself heading towards the balcony. Once he was leaning against the railing, he scoffed at himself. He rushed to stand on the balcony as if he hoped Elvi would still be there and able to clarify the meaning of this cryptic message. The undertone...was unsettling. She had spent a majority of this night and the previous one with him, why not bring this to him then? Why leave it for him to find? She had to know there would be questions to follow, even if he was thrilled with having such a valuable piece of his life back. He looked back to the note that had remained in his hands since it's discovery. His instincts were telling him, that something was very wrong. Elvi wasn't exactly predictable when it came to her behavior...but he knew her. As unlikely as this act was, it wasn't impossible but what was strange about it all, was why Elvi...would provide this note as if it was the only explanation she planned on giving him? Was it to protect Serana, if she had stolen it? Hoping if she was the one to present it to him, he would spare Serana any punishment? He didn't know. With all the possibility that could circle around this, most of them being negative, there was no way to know until Elvi was home, and everything was right again. With a long sigh, he decided he would remain on the balcony a little bit longer. The night's wind provided him some pleasing relief yet one thing kept running through his mind. Harkon luminescent eyes traveled to the crescent moon above as he contemplated. To replace what he lost...?

(xxx)

Elvi wasn't certain how many days had passed, or exactly how long she had been traveling by foot to Helgen but it seemed all she did was blink and she was on the road leading to the ruined village. Memories of her first time in this place resurfaced in her troubled mind. Like a madwoman she chuckled as she walked on the beaten path, all alone. It was fate. Ironically beautiful if she thought about it. For it was in Helgen that her life as a warrior really began. It was after she had fled her home, away from the noise, the pain, and the feeling of being incomplete. When she laid her eyes on the world eater for the first time, as nothing more than a poor and innocent farm girl, only to face him later as the dragonborn, warrior, and savior she became. It was fitting...that she would meet her end, in the place her life had truly began. The notion made everything easier somehow, knowing she couldn't fight it, even if she had tried. Her mind had been so absorbed in thought since she left the castle, she had mindlessly traveled all this distance. Surprisingly no werewolf found her, not once. The only times she remembered clearly was when she had to seek shelter from the burning sun. Five times...five days? Hm...her vampire speed provided her more aid than she realized. She appreciated it, but it was almost foreign to Elvi again. Here of late, Darius had simply taken her where ever they needed to be, but not this time. Her heart ached in a new way when she thought of Vilkas. She wondered how long it would take him, before he found out. Now if she had one person she wanted to say goodbye to more than she could say, besides Harkon, it was him. They may have been stubborn, they may have missed their chance, but what they did have for a very brief moment was beautiful and monumental for her. No one could deny that. Perhaps she mourned the relationship they once had more than their current one, but that didn't change the fact that she would miss him. She really hoped he lived a long and joyous life once she was gone. Doing this allowed her to know that Harkon would, but she didn't have the same closure with Vilkas. In fact, his proud face and unique eyes crept into her mind's eye, a lot in her journey. Elvi really wished so could see him, one last time but this was for the better. Vilkas would somehow magically know what she was up to, and he'd try and stop her. It was almost a guarantee. She felt the fog surrounding her mind being lifted at last and with her knew found focus, she was able to find the vampire's lair with relative ease.

It wasn't coated with the same familiar or obvious signs as the last vampire's hideout she had discovered, but she knew. This time, she had to admit, that this Janus vampire was fairly clever. In one of the burned buildings, there was a cellar door. The moment she opened it she was overwhelmed by the scent of blood along with the aroma of living, breathing mortals. Even at their distance Elvi heard their heartbeats pounding loudly in her ears. She looked around the village for a moment longer and saw what Molag Bal had been referring to. A lot of the smaller houses were repaired, not in livable conditions but still amazing in comparison to the wreck it used to be. The thought of a town's lord being a vampire in disguise was amusing and presumably preposterous, but the Daedric Prince had informed her that Janus Hassildor paraded around most of the centuries in this way. Amazing how he had avoided discovery all this time, were that the case.

With a quick breath and with purpose, Elvi jumped down the little cellar door. Once her feet met the hardwood floor she heard the sound of a frightened gasp. She turned her head to see two, what she assumed to be...maids? Both wearing simple dresses and bonnets, looking at Elvi in complete terror. Slowly one of the maids walked towards her and spoke in a stammering voice

"C-can we help you miss..." She began but once she saw Elvi's glowing eyes for once it seemed to comfort her instead of provoking more fear. "...oh you must be seeking Lord Hassildor?" She finished. Causing Elvi to chuckle evilly. Ah... the last true battle...she may as well make it memorable.

"Why yes, I am seeking Janus Hassildor, is he in?" Elvi answered. Keeping her smirk hidden was difficult, but she managed. With a polite bow the maid walked over to a bookshelf and after fiddling around with a few books, the shelf it's self moved out of it's place presenting a wide entrance to the underground chambers. Elvi rolled her eyes, well that had been done a ridiculous amount of times before, now hadn't it? Wickedly predictable.

"Lord Hassildor never mentioned having guests tonight, I'm sure he'll still be deligh-" but the poor maid wasn't able to finish her sentence. Elvi ran up to her, ripped her neck to one side by her hair, and dug her fangs into her neck. It felt so very nice to make a fresh kill once again. When the last of the woman's blood was drained from her, Elvi tossed her corpse to the floor. Her eyes now setting on the trembling second maid and she flashed her fangs at her. Running with the beast was still such a new, fresh, exhilarating feeling, that Elvi wasn't even certain what she was capable of anymore. Before she knew it, the other mortal was drained and she was racing down the underground entrance. She wasn't holding anything back anymore. Not when she was about to lose it all anyway. She didn't touch her swords this time either, she wanted to deliver a bloody and gruesome death to every mortal or vampire that came across her path in the most satisfying of ways. Which of course was with her hands. She didn't have a description of Janus, but ancient vampires had a distinct look to them and Elvi was confidant that she could pick him out from the rest of this pathetic lot.

The mortals were far more entertaining to destroy, Elvi had to admit. They were so much more frail than vampires and in no time, she found herself feasting on the last one's rejuvenating blood. Soon after was when the first vampire attacked. It was humorous to throw the lifeless corpse in her arms at the reluctant vampire and to watch him stumble backwards, almost toppling over. Before he could form a spell or reach for his weapon, Elvi gripped him by his throat in a crushing grip. Being sure that her nails kept digger deeper and deeper into his skin. Instinctively when she saw another vampire racing towards her from out of the corner of her eye, she formed a vicious spell of bloodmagic in her free hand and sent to flying towards him. When it made contact and Elvi was filled with the tingling thrill of the vampire's life force it urged her forward, so she ripped out the jugular of the vampire she held captive. Already she had painted the small space in a variety of red colors and she admired her handy work for a short while. Ah, mindless bloodshed, was there anything more therapeutic? Two more vampires spotted her, after hearing the commotion from a lower level, and now they were charging to claim her life. Sad for them it was already promised to another, but to prove her strength before the time came, Elvi was determined to kill everyone else without taking so much as a scratch of damage!

To her absolute joy the vampire within striking distance had decided to engage her, using only his fists. Allowing her to easily dodge his pitiful swings and even catch one of his fists with her hand. With a wicked smirk on her face, Elvi crushed to weaker vampire's hand in hers. The delicious sound of bones breaking followed by his a bloodcurdling scream could be her lullaby, since she adored the combination so much. Growing tired of the game with such little sport, Elvi pulled one of her swords free and when the vampire fell to his knees in pain, she forced her sword through his jaw until the tip of her blade exuded from the top of the vampire's head. She was able to kick the body off her weapon in time to block the last vampire's sword that was inches away from slicing her own head open. With a quick flick of her hand, her other sword was drawn and Elvi smirked yet again. Killing with ones hands was by far the most pleasurable but hearing two fighters swords clashing in battle was also very satisfying for her. The less experienced swordsman lost his weapon quickly to Elvi's skilled maneuvers and she expertly kicked his leg out from under him so that he fell to his knees before her. Gods how she loved doing that. Instantly Elvi crossed her arms and scissored her swords around his neck but before she could make the kill she heard a male voice shout

"Stop!"

Elvi whipped her head around to see a short imperial vampire rushing up the clay steps towards her, and Elvi knew by looking at him, that it was Janus Hassildor. He was dressed in tacky gold and black expensive robes and when he stopped and stared at her, Elvi winked at him. The second that followed Elvi decapitated the last vampire with one violent tug of both her swords. The feeling of his blood joining the rest that was on her face and armor soothed her in a very sadistic way. She savored the appalled look on Janus' face before she placed her swords back into their sheathes. Clapping her hands together a couple of times to rid herself of some of the dirt that had gotten on them. Her eyes remaining viciously on him.

"Janus Hassildor, how nice of you to finally join us." Elvi called over to him. Watching him examine the carnage around her. Janus balled his fist and grit his teeth, but strangely Elvi didn't see any substantial amount of anger on his face.

"Those mortals...they were innocent, why did you attack them! If you are another one of Molag Bal's henchmen, sent here to claim my soul you should have taken it up with me or the other immortals, instead of them!" he yelled at her. Elvi chuckled through her teeth before bursting out into laughter. She really hoped that when she used give such noble speeches, they didn't sound as pathetic as his did.

"Oh I'm sorry Janus, did I break etiquette by dining on the help? You really must express any limitations to your guests, my friend. I simply thought they were here to provide a nice snack for weary travelers or do you wish to try and deceive me like you did them? I know exactly what you are, Janus Hassildor and it's about time you realized it too." Elvi said crossing her arms. This could be a very stubborn match is she wasn't able to provoke him into not only attacking her...but killing her as well.

"It is you, who doesn't know what we really are. We're damned, you naive fool. Why damn yourself further by acting as you do? Do you really believe that you will live for the rest of eternity? That your bloodshed would cause the Lord of Domination to be merciful to you in his wicked plane? There is nothing wrong with the way I live, young one. Fill yourself with the dark desires if it pleases you but we don't all have to act as cowardly." Janus shot back and Elvi felt her rage climbing but she cooled it. As much as she wanted to lash out and kill the bastard...she couldn't.

"Coward am I? Big words coming from a milk drinker like you. Your ancient vampire blood would have given you more then enough power to stop my so called bloodshed. But instead you stood there like a gawking child. Look hard upon your dirty work, Janus." Elvi said extending her arms and gesturing to the string of dead bodies behind her. "You are just as much at fault as I am. You have the power to stop me, but you didn't. Blood is already on those neatly scrubbed hands."

Some progress was being made since Janus was taking steps closer to her, but still...no real emotion showed on his face. It was becoming quite infuriating.

"You are a victim, young one whether you know it or not. A survivor of the vampire's bite. There is good in everyone, I know a part of you loathes these violent tendencies. I have lived this long without becoming a slave to this disease, so you are capable of it too. Do yourself a favor and go back to your home, for even if you succeed in killing me, the command of Molag Bal will order you to do even more cruel acts than this, in the future, just to amuse him. He is a wicked being and the sole reason we are the fiends we are! You shouldn't be following his word, you should be fighting against him with everything you have in you!" Janus urged and Elvi rolled her eyes. Oh so it was the whole 'save your mortal soul' plight eh? Been there, done that.

"Lord Molag Bal probably would have let you live this pitiful existence if you hadn't so boldly cured your ignorant wife of his gift. The 'dark desires' you speak of are to be enjoyed not condemned."

Elvi noticed that when she mentioned his wife, Janus' eyes glowed the furious glow she knew so well from her kind. With his lack of words and his eyes remaining at their brightest, Elvi grinned. Oh...there was her answer. Why didn't she think of it sooner?

"Ah, yes, the beloved wife. Let me guess...by the time you got the stones to let yourself die, you lost the precious information needed to cure yourself of your 'disease' am I right? Turned your head for to long and the mortal that cured your wife was already long gone? Taking with them the secrets to cure vamprisim. So after searching for a cure for hundreds of years, you gave up hope and decided that if you tried to purify your soul, you may still be able to join her in a blissful afterlife? How dumb are you? You had a blissful eternity, right here in Tamriel if you would have just accepted your gift! It would have been a good life!" It would have been a great life...Elvi thought to herself. Comparing Janus and his deceased wife's life to her and Harkon's. Even eternity didn't feel long enough when she was around him. Now this fool put himself through unneeded heartache simply because the bitch was a coward! Now she had to be without the man she loved with all her heart even when she embraced the darkness herself. Fate, irony, whatever you wanted to call it was a very cruel joke for her.

"Don't speak of things you know nothing about, child!" Janus yelled at her. His eyes kept their glow and Elvi knew she was close. She just needed to provoke him a tad bit more...

"Don't act as though you don't know the rapture of the bite, or the kill Janus. Why deny yourself it?! Here I have taken all your beloved followers from you, are you really going to let me get away with it? Embrace it! That nagging need in your chest that is telling you to rip me apart for my crimes. It's what makes us who we are, don't fight it! Because I promise you...if you don't kill me this night I will see to it that I make your life a worse hell than anything Lord Molag Bal could bestow upon you. I think I'll start by-" Elvi broke her speech to draw both of her swords. The best motivation to kill for someone as reluctant as he...was their very lives!

"-counting how many times I can break each bone in your body before they heal once again."

At that, she attacked. Using her swords as little as she could, but she gave the elder vampire credit, he dodged most of her blows, until she was able to smack him in the jaw with the hilt of his sword. When he staggered backwards, she delivered an onslaught of kicks and shallow cuts to the his unarmored body. Ripping most of his robes in various places and cutting nice and shallow cuts where ever she could. Not enough to be life threatening but enough to sting and cause agony.

"You really are pathetic, Janus. Were your roles reversed and your wife had lived and you died, I bet she would have found herself in the arms of a real man, before you were in the ground. I think I understand why she chose death after all. Being married to a weakling like you for eternity, would make me want to end my own life too!" Elvi said viciously to him and to her immediate surprise Janus recovered. Catching one of her hands by her wrist, then the other before she could make any form of impact on him this round. Being so close to the vampire, Elvi heard his demonic growl roll out of his throat and she smirked.

"There you go..." she whispered in encouragement. "...embrace it."

Everything after that happened so fast. Elvi felt herself being thrown from Janus and landing on her feet not far from him. Another loud vampire roar followed and Elvi's eyes widened when she saw Janus summoning a powerful and deadly spell. One of bloodmagic...so this was her chance. The perfect opportunity. He was calling on his vampire power and she had angered him to the point he had lost all control. Elvi swallowed hard and so much of her wanted to jump out of the way but she made herself stay put. As quick as those seconds were, she still didn't feel regret. Harkon was going to get his wish and the mortals would just have to adapt, for all she cared. If you thought the sun brought happiness, then you obviously have never kissed or made love under the moonlight. It may have been a short life, but it was a full one, because of him. When Janus released his spell, Elvi was still tempted to move out of the way since there was time...only she didn't. When the spell hit her, her swords went flying out of her hands and her body landed several feet away from the ancient vampire.

When Elvi's back hit the ground she tried to think of Harkon and the beautiful images she hoped she would see before her very eyes in this moment, but she couldn't think at all. Only the instinct telling her, she was dying due to the pain popped into her mind. After a matter of a few seconds...the indescribable pain disappeared and everything just...stopped.

(xxx)

Serana was still a little shaken by the words she had exchanged with Elvi before she left. It was progress...right? Perhaps she could make it right with her after all. She knew she wanted Elvi's friendship returned to her more than she wanted almost anything else in her life. The prophecy was beginning to slip away from her mind. Her mother and Elvi were the only beings that remained important to her. Seeing the look on Elvi's face after she revealed her horrible secret, haunted her very dreams. So often, she didn't desire sleep anymore. Serana really believed she had done the right thing. She couldn't let Elvi make a very crucial mistake, she had to stop all of it before it got out of hand! Elvi was right though...she should have spoken with her about it, before acting out in fear. She wondered if the Elvi she had known when they first met, really was long gone? As she walked her way into the main hall, she passed her father's chambers. She shut her eyes and sighed. She considered going the long way and walking around the room altogether, as most did, but she was weary and didn't want to put forth the extra effort. When she was almost of out of frame...she caught something out of the corner of her eye. Something that made her take steps backwards and stand in the middle of his doorway. With her heart pounding in her chest, Serana raced into Harkon's chambers. The last thing she ever imagined herself seeing...was her father on his knees, gripping onto his table for support. His right hand was dug into his chest and his entire body trembled wickedly.

"Father!" Serana shouted, dropping to her knees next to him. His eyes were cast forward and he acted as though he didn't hear her, nor was even aware of her presence. As angry as she was at him, it was very surreal to see him in such...pain? She never wanted him hurt after all, she just wanted him stopped! No matter what, he was still her father so she did love him. Seeing the titan amongst men wallowing in agony made her blood turn cold in her veins. She accepted he may have to die for the prophecy nonsense to end, but seeing him now...she didn't know if she truly, accepted the concept yet. Keeping his train of sight ahead of him, Harkon said in a whisper

"...something...is wrong..." How she couldn't recognize that voice. It was pained, filled with despair. Surely that voice hadn't came from him. Not her father. Confused and concerned Serana insisted

"What's wrong, father? What's happened to you?"

Harkon didn't answer. Instead he stood very slowly to his feet. Serana watched his movements carefully. Something was wrong indeed...he even stood differently. She had known her father for thousands of years, and in that time she knew his every movement and gesture by heart. Yet the voice she heard and the stance he now took...was foreign to her. Even his posture was slightly hunched as if the ache hadn't left him. She stood upright after he was steady and opened her mouth to voice her concern but the scent of his blood, made the very sentence on her tongue disappear. His armor was gone and the opening in his shirt was...wet...with his blood. He stood perfectly still as she moved closer to him. Peeling back his shirt to see the gruesome sight hidden underneath it. From the looks of it...there were scratches on his chest. Right where his heart resided. She watched the small wounds heal before her eyes but it didn't make it any less disturbing. To be certain she looked down to his right hand and sure enough his fingertips were coated with his blood. Gods...had he lost his mind!

"What did you do!" Serana scolded but looking into her father's eyes...she could tell he was a thousand miles away from her. Grabbing him by his shoulders, she shook him in desperation.

"Father, what is wrong! Why did you do this to yourself, are you insane!" she shouted. He blinked a couple of times and looked down to her.

"I wanted it to stop..." was his response. Making Serana all the more terrified. It had happened hadn't it? He lost all grip on reality. Why else would he be acting like this?!

"You wanted what to stop father, talk to me!"

Harkon started to look around the room, in an almost desperate fashion. Like he was searching for something he had lost. This was only getting more horrifying for Serana to witness. If he had lost it, he was even more dangerous nowthen he would be lucid. Yet when he straightened up and buttoned his shirt once again he answered her.

"The pain." was all he could say. It was blunt and without emotion, like he was stating a simple fact. He couldn't keep his thoughts together, anymore. Everything was swirling so fast in his mind. He didn't even feel...like himself anymore. Like he had been dropped into a strangers body, and forced to use it as his own. The unbearable ache in his chest only grew stronger by the second. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. It had been so long since Harkon felt any true pain, feeling it now was borderline shattering. Battle wounds he could relate to...but not this. The very ground underneath his feet seemed vacant. Everything was tasteless and the small amount of light in the room was unseen by him. There was only darkness, hunger, pain...and the bitter, bitter cold. What...in Oblivion was happening to him?!

"Father...get a grip on yourself. If you had dug much deeper, you would have reached your heart."

"I don't need it anymore!" Harkon snapped automatically without thought. Serana took in a few deep breaths to try and calm herself down. There had to be a somewhat reasonable explanation for all of this. As insane as her father was, he had never acted this out of sorts before. Something had to be causing it. Serana's jaw dropped and she shook her head. No...that couldn't be it. Swallowing her fears, she gained the courage to ask,

"Father...did...did something happen to Elvi?" She asked carefully. Truth was, he would be the first to know. When someone you shared a blood bond with was critically hurt or even...dead...you felt it. Nothing as intense as what your partner felt, but the pain is real none the less. You feel their agony, emotions...everything. Almost like you were there with them.

"...Elvi..." Harkon said and it finally dawned on him where the root of his pain came from. He let out a long exhale of breath. He didn't understand. Elvi was far too powerful for this Janus character to hurt her. Let alone claim her life, when dozens of more worthy enemies had already attempted to before him. Despite his ancient blood, Janus was nothing. Few of his kind mastered their blood the way Harkon did. So in that brief moment he convinced himself...that it wasn't true. That everything was normal, and he could still expect to see his sunshine walking through the front doors any night now. The shallow ache in his chest told him otherwise. When a cold shiver went up his spine Harkon felt like he was slowly being coated with ice. A wicked, ageless, and gripping cold, that haunted him. It told him she was gone. His heart ceased it's rhythmic pattern, but it was burning in his chest. A new...thought came to Harkon's mind. If Elvi was killed by a vampire so much weaker than herself...it was intentional. Now it all began to unravel. Elvi wouldn't leave him willingly, in any way. Not now, not after everything...so...she was told that she was meant to die in this task. By the one and only being his word couldn't overthrow. How...naive he felt. How couldn't he have seen it sooner? Looking back now...it was obvious. Why wasn't he prepared for something of this magnitude? Molag Bal asked her to do this, since he continued to doubt her convictions. But couldn't he see her worth? Harkon had assumed once the Prince looked past Elvi's wayward beginning, he would keep her alive and strong to help carve the world into the image they both desired. This was typical though...Molag Bal never blessed anyone easily. The countless years of service, trials or dedication wasn't enough. The Prince of Domination had his own set of standards that he judged by, and those who didn't inspire the Daedric Prince, was cast out of existence. He found Elvi unworthy of his blessing, yet worthy enough to test her faith. Harkon's faith. Betrayed wasn't the word, more misled. As though he was a child wishing upon fallen stars, only to realize that the stars don't grant anything but light. They didn't even provide him that much anymore.

When he thought back to the sword, and reread the note written in charcoal in his mind, he knew that ache in his chest wasn't going to fade for a very...very long time. She knew...she knew! Elvi knew she was walking to her death...and she didn't tell him. Did she think it wouldn't effect him? Wouldn't she have more to say than goodbye...? Words were buzzing like angry hornets in his head. Words he didn't say, but should have. Time he had wasted, things he would miss. Nothing else could enter his mind. No longer would he be scorched by her warmth or bewildered by her fire. He hadn't been forced to grieve since the years he was a mortal. He had all but forgotten these feelings but now they were resurfacing in a strong and unyielding force. He never wanted to feel this way again. He wasn't sure if it was the time in between his last encounter with death or if the present one hit him harder than the first one, were it possible, but none the less, this ache and pain was more consuming than anything he could have ever imagined. Just before the pain had hit him...he felt her fear...her commitment and her misery. It was more agonizing to know exactly what she had felt before her death than the revelation that the thing he had lost in her note to him...was her.

"...why didn't you tell me...?" he finished after all his troubling thoughts. Harkon's arm rose, trembling with his mixture of anger and foreign misery, to his forehead. He couldn't think. Something else he wasn't used to. Normally Harkon was disputing, scheming or basking in memories. Now there was nothing. Only pain, cold, silence, and darkness. The glowing ferocity in his eyes began to shine vibrantly as he did everything in his power to turn the pain and misery into anger. Not knowing where to direct it, but he knew anger. He could eventually control it, but any other emotions were relatively new and very unwelcome. Without answering Serana, he walked a few steps forward. Everywhere he looked he was reminded of Elvi. Her very scent lingered faintly and it tainted the air. Something he used to be able to take comfort in but it was just another jab into his heart now. A cut as deep as the physical ones he made on his own body. It seemed perfectly logical at the time. The pain hit him so fiercely he attempted to remove the source. Only for his heart to not be the source of his pain at all, but the heart of another as it beat it's final beats. There was no where he go to escape this feeling. He had to face it, alone.

"...Leave me..." Was all Harkon could illiterate that formed any real sense. He was struggling to keep himself together, especially in the company of his daughter. The cold killer and heartless beast wasn't supposed to show so much as a crack in his exterior. Something that was becoming more and more difficult. With more subtle steps in a direction he wasn't certain, Serana carefully insisted.

"Father, what has happened to Elvi!" She knew it was a rough move, to press the subject to him but she had to know! Remembering how she felt every time she lost someone she was bonded to and how much it tore her apart, but she had to know the truth! Maybe...just maybe Elvi was still okay and her father was overreacting to an injury or something. To Serana, Elvi was still her best friend, the single most exceptional woman she had ever had the privilege of meeting. Elvi had to be okay, she just had to be! Otherwise, what was the point in doing what she had done, something that hurt Elvi so deeply and damaged their friendship?! If she was to perish anyway...then everything was in vain. Everything.

"Leave me!" Harkon roared turning his head to look at his daughter. He wouldn't say it. He couldn't say it. Nothing could make him. The very sentence being uttered from his lips would make the pain to much to bare. Being closest to the wall in front of him Harkon placed his open palm on the stone while the other hand repeatedly punched the same wall. Violently shards of stone scattered all about the room and Serana yelped in fear at his sudden actions. Serana's heart plummeted to her stomach, where she was certain it would remain. His manic and violent reaction...somehow made it all the more real. Instantly Serana's eyes filled with tears. They fell from her eyes before she was even aware of their presence. It was true...it had to be true. Elvi Erissen was dead. None of them...would ever see her again. After a few more mighty blows to the wall, Harkon spun around and flipped over his desk. Causing it to hit another wall and shatter to pieces along with making most of the objects on his shelves to fall to the floor along with it. Serana took steps backwards and not knowing what to do or say, save let her father express his anguish however he saw fit, she speedily walked out of the room.

With each passing step the weight of this news got heavier and heavier. This was never considered, not for a moment. Elvi was powerful and anywhere she failed, her father or herself was there to take up the slack. She didn't have to hear the confirmation to know this wasn't some sick joke, it was real. Roaring thunder shook the entire castle, and she heard a crack of lightning follow it. Obviously in her father's state, he lost control of his powers and the very atmosphere was reflecting his turmoil. As she walked closer and closer to the main hall, she watched the walls that she passed being coated in the thick layer of ice and the temperature in the castle dropped rapidly. The crackling sound if the moisture in the air hardening into ice was very distinct and it sent an unwanted tremor through Serana's body. It really was a loud, screaming reminder that Harkon didn't have control over his ungodly power at the moment. Something...she had never witnessed from him before. Her father never lost control over his power, his anger and rage, yes, but not his power. With the way the rain was mercilessly beating down on the castle, and wind swirling in a rapid and deadly speed outside, he may very well destroy their home without meaning too, if he didn't get a grip on himself soon. She couldn't blame him...when you lost a progeny...it felt like an invisible part of you was ripped away. She hoped for years something could fill the void she felt in her heart, but nothing ever did. He'd have to come to terms with it on his own. No one could comfort him, in a way he did lose a part of himself. Serana had to admit...she never anticipated this kind of reaction from him, however. But she couldn't concern herself with her father anymore. Her own pain was far to overwhelming. The option of remaining strong wasn't even remotely possible. With Elvi's death...she took so much with her.

When she was near the small staircase leading down to the main table she didn't have the chance to reach it. She fell to her knees under the crushing heartache before she could, letting out a loud sob as she did so. Watching all these abnormal events around them, the Volkihar vampires were obviously confused and concerned but Darius pushed past all of them when he saw Serana hit the floor. Ignoring the surrounding vampires and the constant whispers of their voices, Darius dropped to the floor next to Serana and was already taken aback. A steady stream of tears had already fallen from her eyes down to her chin. Soaking the hard floor with the drops of her tears. Darius was not at all...accustomed to comforting someone but he was going to attempt it. From out of the corner of his eye he saw the ice on the walls slowly creeping it's way into the main hall and he was even more concerned. Something was out of place here...something very vital.

"Serana, what's wrong? Has something happened?" he asked in a quiet voice to her. Serana took in a shaky breath. Knowing that no one would understand the way she did, unless she flat out said it. Saying it was also a challenge for her, but what other choice did she have? It was the confirmation she didn't want to be the one to make, but that burden was placed on her shoulders since she knew her father wasn't about to anytime soon.

"Elvi...Elvi is gone..."

Darius raised his eyebrow. Quite a bit of an overreaction wasn't it? Elvi had been gone for days now, so it wasn't as though she was just now noticing. He missed Elvi something awful too, to be honest but he knew she would be back soon, and everything would be right again. Strange that the lord of the castle...also...seemed to be sharing Serana's anguish. Darius' eyes widened at the same time another boom of thunder shook the castle. As if the revelation struck him as harshly and quickly as the lightning that raged outside. Gone...as in...gone? Despite himself he chuckled. How ludicrous, the very concept of a vampire as mighty as Elvi falling in battle to someone not half her worth. He heard the rumors, Elvi was meant to destroy a peace loving heretic. Ancient but untrained. So she would find no trouble in this. Besides, how could they know for certain? Unless...unless Harkon...felt her passing. Which could explain the monstrous storm outside and the ice now forming underneath his very feet. His hand on the stone floor was chilled as the coating of ice formed underneath his very fingertips.

"Don't joke like that, princess. You may end up jinxing us." Darius said with confidence. He watched Serana's lip tremble before another onslaught of sobs irrupted from her. The tears yet to cease in her eyes. Panic shook Darius to his core, while his brain tried to even grasp the mere idea of Elvi being dead. It wasn't conceivable anymore. His kind didn't die...or at least that's what it always felt like. No vampire he cared for had perished in anyway, so...how could Elvi? Strongest of them all? When he looked down he saw that Serana was clutching onto a necklace of some sort and hiding her face in her knees. She wanted to hang on to as much as of pride as she could, but she had held back far to many tears up until this point, for her to have the strength to stop them now. Convinced...it was just his misinterpretation Darius continued

"You are joking right...?" No answer. Just the muffled sound of Serana's sobs. This wasn't happening. This was impossible. He couldn't lose Elvi after all their close calls, and the short time he was granted with her! With shaking hands he gripped Serana's shoulders and gently pulled her back so that he could look at her.

"Tell me you're joking!" Darius practically commanded of her. His voice raising louder than he ever intended it to, in the presence of a lady. He could forgive it, if this really was some sick, demented joke but she'd have to acknowledge it first. Serana took in a deep breath again and tried to steady herself. She kept gazing from Darius' eyes to Elvi's amulet of Talos in her hand. He deserved to know...he had become close to Elvi too. Swallowing back another cry of pain Serana whispered

"She's dead...Darius. Father felt her passing."

Darius shook his head and not long after he heard the terrifying roar that filled the entire castle. Shaking the very walls and ground stronger than the thunder it's self. Hearing it frightened Darius more because of it's meaning, not the volume or knowing that the man that exuded it was now in an uncontrolled rage. The sound of more shattering and broken items, echoed throughout the castle immediately after. It was more evidence stacking up against his hope. Oh gods it was true...wasn't it? He was never going to see Elvi again. Her strange yet touching words when she departed, was not only a goodbye but her last goodbye. Did she know she was going to die? How could she have known?! Darius bit his hand in between his index finger and thumb to try and halt his own vampiric roar. Afraid if it was heard by Harkon it might make the situation all the more worse. Like he wasn't even allowed to mourn the woman that meant so much to him's death. He didn't feel his fangs sinking into his own skin nor the blood that flowed freely afterward. His eyes shot upward and he saw the crowd that was getting closer and closer to he and Serana, and it was not what either of them needed. He wrapped his arm around Serana and teleported them both away. The only place he thought he could take them, inside of the castle while gaining some privacy was the cathedral. Obviously he didn't need to use his power to bring them both there safely but this way, he could ensure they weren't followed. Though the doors to the Cathedral had remained open since Elvi's time in there, but it was more privacy than they could have anywhere else, since rarely did anyone think to go into the cathedral unless prayer was needed. Darius took a few steps away from Serana once he helped her steady herself on her feet. A crack of lightning illuminated the cathedral, the light creeping it's way inside through the small oval windows, but Darius didn't even notice. He could barely move his own feet correctly. Grief was rippling through his chest so strongly that when the next roll of thunder echoed throughout the entire castle, he used it to cover his pain driven roar. Hoping the natural boom of the thunder muffled it out. Normally a vampires growl would start off in their normal voice if it was as drawn out as the one Darius had uttered, only this one started off evil and demonic but ended in an agonizing cry in his normal human voice. His body trembled afterward and he kept shaking his head repeatedly.

"How could this have happened? How is this even possible!" Darius shouted, no longer caring who could hear him. If Harkon wanted to kill him for mourning Elvi's death, he'd let him. It wasn't as cruel of a fate as forcing him to act as though everything was normal. That he wasn't going to miss seeing that golden hair or the annoyed roll of her perfect eyes, every single night from this one forward. Elvi was even stronger than he was, and he had lived hundreds of years longer than she had. It wasn't fair...if anyone should have went, it should have been him, dammit! This woman had never been dealt a fair hand in her entire life and here he was a walking example of sin and lecherous gluttony. Yet he lived?! It just wasn't fair, Elvi deserved to live the rest of eternity as a reward for all the hardship she had endured! That was the least she could be given! Now she's dead after being an immortal in less than a years time?! With his heart aching in his chest he bit his hand again to try and muffle another wretched roar that wanted to escape him. His fangs dug into his flesh with such force he was surprised that he didn't rip a good chunk of his hand off. Shakily Serana walked over to Darius, Elvi's amulet of Talos securely around her neck now. When she touched his arm, she felt that he was shaking just as much as she was and it made her breath catch in her throat. Of course it made sense, in her time away from Elvi, Darius was the one to be around her. Of course he had grown as attached to the dragonborn as she was. Knowing that Serana stated

"...We...we're not honoring her this way." Every word she said was like poison on her tongue. It's bitter taste would never wash away. All Serana wanted to do was go back to her little ball on the floor and cry her heart out, but she knew that wouldn't be what Elvi wanted. She'd want them to honor her existence and remember her. So that's what they had to do. If it took all eternity Serana would be certain that Elvi's memory and all the good she had done for Tamriel was never forgotten. Never. Songs of the dragonborn's courage would echo throughout time, in every tavern, ceremony or battlefield. The way it should be. It was still very hard to advise that someone else should remain strong when all you wanted to do yourself, was fall apart. When Darius' eyes found hers, the deep suffering they held was further torment.

"We'll get through this...we don't have a choice. It's going to be extremely...extremely hard for awhile to get past this heartache, but we'll get there. Elvi wouldn't want us to weep over her. She'd want us to celebrate the life she did have." Serana offered as condolence for him. She knew that it would only be minutes from now that they both would be returned to their broken states, but they had to at least try. Darius admired Serana's courage. Even as she flashed her false smile, a tear fell from one of her eyes. Darius pulled himself together so he could comfort Serana. Damning himself for showing such weakness but he truly had lost all control of himself. Oddly enough it was the second time a woman forced themselves into his arms, and he felt Serana's wrap themselves around his waist. He let her sob quietly in his chest, and he stroked her hair from time to time. He was all out of inspiring words, the last of them died with Elvi. So the most he could do to help Serana in this dark time was to hold her to him and shelter her from any witnesses or judgment. From the cathedral doors, Orthjolf frowned. He couldn't say that he was grief stricken by the dragonborn's death, but it was difficult for him to see his son in such dismay. One that he would have to go through alone. That pain could only be mended with time from his experience, so he attempted to give his progeny that much. His head jolted to his left when he heard his kin approaching. As quietly and quickly as he could, Orthjolf closed the cathedral doors as far as they would go then marched down to meet his them before they reached this destination. He wasn't going to let this lot, crowd Darius in his current state with their incessant babble. If anyone had a problem with it, they'd have to go through him.

Inside the cathedral Darius looked out one of the windows after he hadn't heard any rainfall or thunder for sometime. Darius raised his eyebrow at the sight. The lord of the castle either must have gained control over his power again or lost it completely. Because Instead of angry and heavy rainfall or thunderous lightning raging outside...it was snowing? Glistening, tiny crystals of ice descended to the ground in a gentle, horizontal fall. Covering the castle and the ground around it in no time. Nothing violent or angry came from the snowfall, but Darius could have sworn he could taste sorrow its self in the very air. Strange that such a beautiful and somewhat calm storm of snow could cause so much...mourning.

(xxx)

It took Janus over an hour to calm himself down. Now that he had given the beast within a breath of life, it struggled to gain control over him, but he didn't allow it. Still he cursed himself for giving in, in the first place! After all the years he repressed it, for him to relapse because of one misguided soul was shameful. From downstairs inside his small bedroom he looked to the tarnished wedding ring on his finger and whispered

"Forgive me Rona..."

The woman vampire he destroyed wasn't far off her mark. He was trying his best to be forgiven for what he was, so that he might see the splendors of the heaven his wife resided in. He missed her more than words would allow, and now he had to start all over in his penance, in order to reach her. Something about the unknown vampire's words stirred the creature within to the point he couldn't control it anymore. He wasn't even certain what spell he had sent at her. It formed without any effort or thought whatsoever. With a sigh he rose from his bed and traveled back to the main living area, where all the deceased resided. He'd have to give the bodies a proper burial and perhaps spread the ashes of his vampire followers into the ocean. It seemed to be a proper burial for them. Once he arrived, guilt clenched him when he saw the body of the vampire that had attacked his home. She really must have been someone special, only the strongest vampires bodies remained intact after they died. He knew nothing about her, who she was, where she came from, nothing. She looked so young laying their on the stone floor, a small puddle of her own blood exuding from her head, yet her face had a few splatters of her victims corrupting her natural beauty. Janus sighed once more...it really wasn't her fault. She had fallen prey to Molag Bal and few that did, lead a happy or prosperous lives. He had no right to take her life from her, he should have tried harder to reason with her, but instead her toxic words got the best of him.

Janus decided that she too, deserved a proper burial despite all she had done. He walked to the corner of the room where most of the weapons and equipment were hung on racks on the wall. He didn't have much time until the sun rose, but if he was quick, he could deliver her and few others to their proper resting place. Remembering to look for new helping hands as soon as the sun went down. He'd need it. His vampiric ears caught a slight shuffling sound and from out of the corner of his eye...he saw a very...unlikely sight. Slowly he turned his head around and his jaw dropped in chilling horror.

The vampire he killed was...standing. An angry but confused look on her face...but standing nonetheless. Elvi blinked a couple of times as every memory in her vampire life flashed in her mind. The hunger, rage, and need to destroy, gripped her stronger than it ever had before. Unsure what had happened, or even where she was when she heard a terrorizing but familiar voice booming in her head everything became clear again

"Kill him!" The voice of Molag Bal ordered and Elvi answered his command by roaring her evil growl then racing towards Janus. The might of her roar shook the very foundation and distracted Janus long enough to allow Elvi to make it over to him with unfathomable speed. Feeling empowered again she hoisted Janus off of the ground and pinned him to the wall. She dug her hand into Janus' chest and clenched onto his very heart. When Janus screamed in pain, Elvi flashed her fangs to him. She kept her hand around Janus' heart but instead of ripping it out, she bite her fangs into his neck. Swallowing only a few gulps of his blood before biting down harder and ripping out that chunk of his throat in unison of removing his heart. She relished in the way his body twitched violently and with her hand drenched in the vampire's blood she squeezed his heart until it was nothing but ash. Opening her palm and gently blowing the ash on the corpse that was once Janus Hassildor. She could have given him a fair chance to defend himself, instead of surprising him like she had, but he did kill her after all.

Elvi tried her best to calm down so that she could try and decipher what was going on. Shouldn't she...shouldn't she be dead? That hunger and blood lust helped her realize that she was still very much alive. Somehow she knew she had died though. She just knew. As she stood there, she felt the same but different all at once. Almost like she was alive...alive. As the mortals were, not the vampires, but that was absurd. Her blood soaked fangs were still present and aching to be fed once again. So why did she feel so...rejuvenated? Before she could question anything else that spine tingling laughter was heard again and instinctively Elvi dropped to her knees in a bow.

"Hahahaha...niiiiiccccee kill, little dragon. Your brutality sincerely fills me with pride. Such a wasted shame you were not offered to be a daughter of coldharbour. For a great number of reasons, but your new blessings will suffice, I suppose. Ohhh did you feel it little dragon? All the fear and suffering you caused? Hmph...probably not as much as much as I, but that is why I am the Lord of your kind. I know the suffering of every member of the vampire race and what your death caused, dear sweet, Elvi was exquisite."

Elvi gulped down her fears and tried to answer him in a fitting way. Knowing if he chose to, he could claim her soul yet again and she wanted more than anything to stay in this realm that she thought to have escaped her.

"You honor me Lord Molag Bal, but I...I must ask...why is it that I am back in Skyrim? Wasn't my purpose here..." Elvi began but didn't know how to finish. Luckily Molag Bal continued for her.

"Yes, yes, you were supposed to die this night, Elvi Erissen. Honestly...I didn't expect you to go through with it. Vampires far more loyal than yourself were tasked with the same objective, only to either back out or become an adoring fan of Janus Hassildor's peaceful teachings and promises of salvation! Two of those very vampires you also slaughtered this night were amongst them. Mmmm...all that sweet heartache you harbored in your body before reaching this place was simply delicious but...you did as I asked. As tormented as your sire is, he never once lashed out at me, or vowed his vengeance and turned from me which again...I completely expected him to do. So you see...you and Harkon's little union has baffled me, not once but twice. Normally that would only enrage me but in this case I find it exceptional. Despite this I had every intention of keeping your unique soul to myself, but recalling your animal like savagery, I came to the conclusion you are more valuable to me here, in Tamriel than in my plane. I need that hunger of yours to be taught to all the vampires in this realm, for no one uses this gift to it's fullest potential, save you. Good help is so very hard to come by and you proved your loyalty. So...for now it is a fair trade to leave Harkon's special progeny within his grasp. You see, I win once again."

Elvi tried to calm her heartbeat and it took a lot of effort not to jump up from her position and scream in victory. This was far to good to be true...she really hoped there wasn't another catch waiting around the corner. When Molag Bal continued to speak she feared the worst

"I needed to see how far you would go, Elvi. And how far Harkon would go without you. By stripping him of you, I would know if he really is loyal to me and after examination, he is. So you two are in fact the perfect candidates to lead my creations to the glory they were always meant to posses! I got everything I wanted in this little exchange, willing servants, and glorious suffering. You truly have no idea how much you have caused by simply dying. True...I miss out on having you all to myself, but our time will come little dragon, don't you worry. After you have turned all of Nirn into an enormous playground for my children to run freely in. Law and order must be present however, so you and Harkon will carryout my will and see that my voice is heard. Replace the very water in the rivers, with blood and make the children born in this world never know the harsh burn of the sun. Severing Akatosh's link to his precious mortals and everything will belong to meee! That is my desire, and since you have done everything I have asked of you, you are worthy of your life. My favor is with you, dragonborn I'd make for certain it remained that way! In the meantime you have my protection. Hircine will be forced to call off his dogs, I will see to it personally if I must. All you need focus on is fulfilling this prophecy and shrouding the world in darkness. My patience is wearing thin, so if I do not see progress very soon I am coming after both of you. Congratulations Elvi, you and Harkon have passed the test. Now, I must attend to a new soul that has entered my realm. Return to the castle and make preparations to find your missing scroll. Is that understood?!"

"Yes, my lord. Thank you..." Elvi said in a whisper but she was slowly becoming furious. All of that...all the hell she went through, was a test? Basically seeing if she would go through with her sacrifice and reveling in all the suffering it had caused those close to her? He even prolonged it as long as possible! Sick...what a sick, sick joke. The amusement and delight in his maniacal voice was evident but she wouldn't be laughing anytime soon. She gasped...Harkon! Did he think she was dead?! It would be acceptable if she was but now that she was granted life again what if he-

"Calm yourself little dragon, your sentimental thoughts are making me reconsider, you know? Be a sappy beautiful lover to Harkon if you will, but I want nothing but the beast from you. You should feel more inspired than ever, since I promised I would fulfill my end of the bargain in all aspects. So now when the prophecy is complete all your woes will be lifted, now aren't I nice? Fear not, Harkon will know you have returned to this world, in a few short moments. He senses the blood bond between the two of you better than you ever will. Such a pity that my kind are still plagued with human hearts. Even the most hardened can rip and break under the right circumstances. They are sooo fragile in design. I'm sure from there, he will inform the rest of your lot of your presence and whatever other else, I really don't care. Now, stay strong and hungry Elvi. Lead our kind to their destiny. I trust you will never restrain the blood lust I have gifted you with again nor you dominant ferocity? Embrace it, Elvi. You are the only being that feels it, as you do."

"Never again, my lord. I promise. I will do my best to see your will done." Elvi answered immediately. After a few moments passed and she knew Molag Bal didn't want anymore from her, she grabbed her swords and ran at full speed towards the latter leading to the outside world. She couldn't get to Harkon any faster sitting around and with a new pride and life coursing through her veins, she never longed to be back home at the castle than she did now. With her heart thumping in her chest, she couldn't remember why she ever desired to be away from it!

An: Please read! I have an update for everyone, now I know I have said this before but the frequency in which I have been updating this story is going to change. Sadly, life is getting a little out of hand on my end, and I'm afraid if I kept trying to update weekly, it would take the quality away from the story, so I really hope this doesn't bother you guys to much and you can bare with me. It will be updating at the latest bi weekly though, I promise that much! Anyway, so this chapter had some ups and downs, huh? Mostly downs, I know but what did you think?! I hope you enjoyed! Please, please leave me your thoughts and thank you again for all the support, it means so much to me. The next chapter will feature both Darius' spotlight, and Vilkas' journey. Which do you prefer the chapter to start with? There is still much more story to tell everyone, and I hope you are still interested in seeing it! Thanks again! Don't forget to review!