Chapter Thirty-Four:

Bloodlet Throne

Fredas 23 Evening Star 4E 199 1:45PM

After Taryn, Hiemdall, and I finished scouting outside of the fort to make sure that there were no lookouts or archers wandering about, the three of us entered the with extreme caution. Taryn automatically pulled her bow out, her right hand twitched towards a steel arrow that rested idly in her quiver. Hiemdall opted to use a Skyforge steel dagger for stealth until we got into the heart of the fort. I unsheathed my steel dagger that I used for skinning animals when I hunted, since I had a feeling Taryn would chastise me for grabbing my sword anyway.

The entrance was deserted. A few cracks in the old stone let the nippy air blow through, allowing the three of us to see our breaths.

"This place reeks," I growled quietly as I stalked forward.

Taryn nodded at my statement. "I agree," she said.

Hiemdall grunted, taking a step forward before I yanked him back at the same time fire erupted from four holes in the archway that would take us deeper into the fort. Hiemdall hit the stone floor with a dull thud before he hissed in pain.

"Gods-damned bloodsuckers…" he growled as he healed his slightly burned arm.

Taryn must've rolled her eyes. "There was a pressure plate, you oaf." Taryn pointed to the plate. "I was hoping you learned your lesson after the first time."

I stared at Taryn for a moment. "There was a first time?"

Hiemdall growled lowly. "I broke a trip wire and a battering ram fell and smashed my chest. I was bedridden for weeks."

"You're damn lucky that log didn't break a rib," I retorted. "Or if it did, you're lucky that the bone didn't puncture an organ."

Hiemdall shrugged before he stood up. "Lead the way," he muttered.

Avoiding the pressure plate this time, the three of us walked into a room that had a barred window overlooking a moderate-sized room.

"… This place smells…" a soft voice growled.

My hand clenched around my hunting dagger before I put my finger to my lips to silence my companions. I could see movement below, but it was nearly impossible to see with the limited light offered by the torches that were lacking. There was definitely a Vampire down there, along with someone else. One of their chew-toys, maybe?

Taryn gently tapped my shoulder, gesturing with her thumb towards a set of stairs that'd take us down to the room. I nodded and followed Taryn down the steps while Hiemdall remained above.

Taryn nocked an arrow into her bow, aiming for one of the shadows while I crouched forward as if I was transformed. My hunting knife was readied to taste Vampire blood—or would it merely be ash…?

When I heard the near-silent sound of Taryn's arrow flying through the air, I leapt at the nearest shadow, my dagger plunging into the Nord's throat and while my free (and clawed) hand tore through his hide armor and dug into his chest. In front of me, I heard a wet gurgle as a second arrow lodged in the Vampire's throat. I snarled lowly, an instinct that was set in my mind. I stood and stepped away from the Nord, ignoring the fresh blood on my hand.

Taryn emerged from the shadows as Hiemdall joined the two of us. "Wow…" he breathed as he nudged the dead Nord. "A Vampire thrall…"

I growled at the body for a time before Taryn removed her arrows from the Vampire.

"I thought you were going to transform," she teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Hardly."

Hiemdall urged us forward. We walked towards a tunnel and surprised a Vampire, striking her down with silent efficiency. We spent little time going through the wardrobes and cupboards, each space yielding little coin or weaponry that was useless to us.

"If you failed as a Companion, perhaps joining the Dark Brotherhood would've been an option," Hiemdall said with a mock grin as he closed a cupboard.

I rolled my eyes. "I'd rather not have a bunch of hissing bloodsuckers trying to bite my neck—not that it'd do anything to me."

Taryn pulled out a few septims before putting them in her pack, arranging them so they wouldn't make any noise. "Let's get moving. No telling how long we have until that perfume stops covering our scents."

I grabbed my Imperial bow, favoring the stealth it gave me instead of lunging for the Vampires and stabbing them in the throat with a knife. The stone floor of the fort gave way to snow as we delved deeper into the Vampire lair, my nose wrinkling and my wolf snarling at me for willingly walking into the leech-infested fort. Taryn made a remark about how she wished her half-Nord blood would help with the cold, earning her two smug smiles from Hiemdall and myself. We crept up a wooden ramp, crouching low to the snow as we came upon a large room with multiple Vampires lurking about.

"Get down!" Taryn hissed as she pulled me to the ground. "There's someone patrolling the bridge above." She pointed to the bridge that was slightly to our right.

"Perfect. We have to take him out while the leeches down there aren't looking," I muttered.

"Let me distract them, then," Hiemdall said as he made to reach his greatsword.

Taryn shook her head. "If we don't have to draw attention to ourselves, let's not. I can take out the guard on the bridge. Skadi, get ready to fire at the Vampires down there. Hiemdall…" Taryn paused for a second. "Don't do anything stupid."

Hiemdall gave a childish pout as he crossed his arms. I readied an arrow, narrowing down my sights at the closest Vampire (who was sitting in a chair with its back to us). I could sense there were two other Vampires in the room with him, so I would have to work fast.

"Now!" Taryn hissed as she released the arrow. My own steel arrow flew silently through the air, hitting the Vampire in the back of the head, killing it (for good).

True to form, the other two Vampires converged on their fallen brother and started searching for the culprits that killed him. Their search proved fruitless, but they were on their guard. We noticed how they disregarded the body of their former comrade though.

"Well, they seem to care a lot about their kind," Taryn rebuked.

I shot her a look. "Vampires aren't 'pack' animals, Taryn." She stuck her tongue out at me. "Try that again and I'll have no problem feeding you to the Vampires."

Wasting no more time talking, we made our way down a second wooden ramp (I stopped to loot the Vampire I killed) to observe the area.

"By Talos…" Hiemdall muttered. "You'd think they were creating an army."

I sniffed to clear my senses of the foul stench of Vampires, when I caught the scent that sent a shiver of fear down my spine. "Someone is still here… One of us," I clarified.

"One of the Circle?" Hiemdall said before Taryn elbowed him.

"No, you oaf! A Werewolf!" Taryn snapped. "Everyone else hasn't taken a contract!"

Hiemdall made a noise before a hiss reached my ears. "Look at what the dog dragged in—or did you drag yourselves in?" a Breton Vampire snarled, flashing her fangs down at us.

I snarled lowly at her, my fangs bared in challenge to the undead creature. The Vampire summoned magicka in her hands, the bitter smell of death improving as something was resurrected. It wasn't long before the Vampire and her "friend" were attacking us. I ducked and avoided the resurrected Khajiit woman. My wolf was confused as to why the mer smelled so off. Eventually, my iron sword decapitated the corpse, turning it into a pile of ash while Taryn and Hiemdall were busy impaling the Vampire with a greatsword and a few arrows, and not exactly in that order.

Eventually, the Vampire's body fell uselessly to the ground before Taryn stabbed the monster in the chest with her sword. She was smart to make sure it was really dead.

"You going to eat that?" Taryn said while gesturing to the Khajiit ash pile. "I know Khajiit are your favorite prey…"

I made a quiet gagging noise in the back of my throat. "I prefer my prey to be alive and not resurrected."

We hurried up the wooden ramp, only to have me stop and stare at the metal cage that rested at the top of the ramp and I felt—my muscles scream in protest as Lorbul shoved me into the cage again, laughing as he sent two other Silver Hands into the cage to restrain me—my skin prick in a uncomfortable way.

"Skadi…" I heard Hiemdall say as he crouched in front of me. When did I collapse? "It's not real, remember? You're only seeing things. The cage is empty and reeks of Vampire."

I slowly nodded as the memories faded to the back of my mind.

"This wasn't a good idea, Hiemdall. We shouldn't be here—."

"Why?" I snarled lowly. "Because the mere sight of a cage will send me back to square one? I'm trying my best, Taryn. Until you experience what it's like to be captured and tortured with the one material that causes you the most pain… You have no idea what is going on."

Taryn shut her mouth and walked up the ramp, easily dispatching the Vampire that was guarding the next ice tunnel. The tunnel led to a large space that was divided into separate areas. To our right was a gated door that led to supplies which was filled with human food.

"When do Vampires eat human food? They usually eat humans," Taryn mentioned.

"Why do Werewolves eat human food when there are plenty of humans running around?" I teased.

Rolling her eyes, Taryn and Hiemdall started sneaking around (killing two other Vampires that were "resting") and looting what they could. My attention was solely drawn to the fresh scent of the one Werewolf that I hated the most. Checking the tunnel to my left, I hurried to the area that held the cages to see a fully grown Breton man with midnight-colored hair and dulled silver eyes. His ribcage was exposed, cluing me into the fact that he wasn't being fed (that and the shaking).

"P-Please…" he rasped. "I-I can't tell you anything."

"Who are you?" I demanded.

The Breton stared at me for a time, a glint of recognition in his eyes. "Savage…"

I rolled my eyes. "Is that the only name I'm known by?" I growled. "I want to know who you are, kid. Got it?"

"H-How do you know I'm a kid?"

I glared at him. "Because you reek of Tralen. Remember him? Your 'God', your 'Divine alpha'?"

The Breton snorted, wincing in pain. "Hardly call him a god…"

"I'm not here to make small talk, whelp. Now, who are you?" I repeated.

"R-Rolaan." The Breton, Rolaan, gasped. "Rolaan Julard. I lived in Karthwasten until my father was given a job at the keep in Markarth. We were traveling and stopped to camp for the night when he came. Slaughtered my parents and took me, promising me that I'd see them again when I..." He gulped. "... When I'd die."

I frowned. "He lied to you." Rolaan snapped his eyes to me. "Your soul belongs to Hircine. Your parents are in Sovngarde."

Rolaan's eyes turned red with the promise of tears. "No…"

I nodded slowly. "Why are you in this cage?" I wrapped my hands around the metal.

"I… I had…" Rolaan hung his head. "Tralen said it was mating season and Sosile… she was…" Rolaan blushed. Despite being a fully grown man and having the ability to think like one, it seemed that he'd reverted to his actual age.

"She was in heat," I offered.

Rolaan nodded. "Tralen was gone and most of the males had gone with him. I stayed behind to keep the younger ones in line with Sosile."

"And the rest was history," I said dryly.

"I couldn't help it!" he blurted. "Tralen caught me and threw me in here… Left me alone to die." Rolaan swallowed. "He left with the others weeks ago. The Vampires moved in a month ago and have been no better than Tralen."

I picked the lock quickly, opening the door. "I'm not here to hear your life story, whelp," I said lowly. "Do you want to live?"

Rolaan stared at me with wide eyes, until Taryn showed up, putting a hand on my shoulder. "What're you doing?! He's weak!"

I glared at her. "Go with Hiemdall," I said. "I'll catch up."

"But—!"

"Go!"

Taryn pursed her lips but followed Hiemdall without question. I faced the Werewolf again.

"I repeat: do you want to live?"

Rolaan panted. "I-I don't want to die!"

I sighed. "The moment you transform, you'll turn feral and I'll have to kill you anyway. See it like this: you'll be free. You'll be with the others that I've… taken care of. You won't be hungry, you won't be alone, and I'm sure if Hircine is in a good mood, he might let you get a glimpse of your parents."

Rolaan stared at the bottom of his cage for a time. "Can you do me a favor, Savage?" he asked meekly.

I nodded hesitantly. "What is it?"

"I-I have an uncle in Markarth… If you ever go there, tell him what happened okay? He's probably distraught and really upset." He hung his head. "Make it as painless as possible. Please."

I took a step in, my teeth sharpened and my nails and hands turning into claws. "I can offer you a swift death," I rumbled in a rough voice. "But I can't offer you a painless one."

Before he could reply, my fangs sank into his throat, at the same time my claws delivered the fatal blow that'd end his life. I tore his throat open with my teeth, spitting the foul blood that pooled in my mouth. I didn't hear Rolaan scream as I killed him, which told me he was close to death when I came; he only remained alive because of my quest for Hircine.

I wiped my mouth with some snow to clean myself, and then went to catch up with Taryn and Hiemdall, who were waiting on the other side of a barred archway.

"Thanks for waiting up," I muttered.

Taryn glared at me. "You killed him, didn't you?"

I remained silent.

"Gods-dammit! He was weak—he was defenseless!" Taryn argued.

"He was one of Tralen's," I growled.

Taryn narrowed her eyes at me. "So is Hel, but I suppose she's a special exception, somehow."

I crossed my arms defensively. "That's different!"

"How?! Because she didn't get an adult's body a month after Tralen kidnapped her?! Tralen's blood is her blood, just like that boy's—your blood!"

I snarled threateningly at Taryn, but Hiemdall got in-between us.

"Well, since you two pups are so keen on arguing, let me open this gateway so you can have at each other in the other room, aye?" Hiemdall said bitterly.

"Still hoping for a bloodbath?" I retorted.

"Yes."

Hiemdall pulled a chain down, the bars before us sinking into the ice and snow. We took three steps forward until we were stopped by a sinister laugh.

"And look at this; three dogs willingly walk into my lair," the Vampire purred. "How perfect." He glanced at Taryn. "But that one, the Imperial… Her scent is different…"

I snarled at him. "Come down here and fight like a real Vampire!"

The Vampire's bright amber-colored eyes narrowed at me for a moment before a grin spread across his lips, his sharp incisors peeking out from under his lips. "I think I just might…" He stood from his "throne", tucking his arms behind his back. "It's a pleasure to see you again."

My brow furrowed. "I think I'd remember if I met a leech like yourself!"

The Vampire chuckled. "Of course you wouldn't remember me. It has been a while." The Vampire made a show of tapping his chin in thought. "I mean, meeting a dirt-covered Nord girl wearing fur for clothing is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

I recalled the Vampire that I met in Dragon's Bridge. "It's you!" I growled.

The Vampire laughed before waving his hand, and a female Altmer walked out from the shadows. It wasn't Erissa (thank the Nine), but the High Elf could be related to her.

"Indeed, it is me, Werewolf." The Vampire settled back in his throne, as if standing for so long exhausted him.

I crossed my arms. "What happened with you, eh? Last time I saw you, you weren't a monster."

The Altmer shook his head. "And there's that pesky 'M' word…" He sighed. "Odd, the monster calls me a monster…"

Taryn nudged my side. "He has a point, Skadi."

"Skadi…" the Vampire said with a wistful tone. "So that is your name. Well, dear, I suppose it's only fair. I'm Rimir."

I rolled my eyes. "Look, you know why we're here, so just get your ass off of that 'throne' and down here into my jaws so I can just go home."

Rimir laughed. "Celria, dear, open the gate will you?"

"Of course," the female High Elf, Celria, said as she pulled on a chain. I heard the familiar snarls of wolves.

"Looks like you got that fight you wanted, Hiemdall," Taryn muttered as she and I both drew our swords.

Two wolves jumped at Taryn and I. I caught the glow of magicka as a bandit was resurrected from a pile of ash. Hiemdall got into a battle with the resurrected bandit while I sunk my sword through the wild wolf's throat. Taryn finished her wolf off a little less than graciously before she stabbed the resurrected bandit in the back.

Of course, either Hircine or Molag Bal was having a fun time watching their "champions" fighting because Rimir had resurrected the bandit Taryn killed (again) along with another one that was already a pile of ash.

The second bandit proved a little more difficult, but eventually he fell to Hiemdall's blade and erupted into a pile of ash again. I snarled at Rimir.

"Coward! Get your undead ass down here and face a real hunter! I don't need to sneak into a home and feed off of a sleeping target! I don't need to wait for the sun to set to hunt!" I growled.

Rimir sniffed the air before he sent Celria down to face us. That didn't last very long. She was just a pile of ash within five minutes.

I glared up at Rimir. "What happened to that polite Vampire I met all those years ago?" I hissed.

Rimir stood, his arms crossed in front of him. "I learned swiftly that the mortals don't accept us—the higher beings—as easily." He walked so he was on the edge of the overlook. "I tried to find honest work as a mage at the College of Winterhold, truly I did. But one student saw me lurking around another student and witnessed my… feeding habits."

"Let me guess, he tried burning you at the stake?" I remarked.

Rimir scowled. "They removed me from the College immediately and the town guard chased me until I was stumbling in the frozen wasteland that is the Pale." He chuckled. "It's not like I felt the cold anymore. Just hunger." He quirked an eyebrow at me. "You should know what hunger feels like—the burning need for food, for blood…"

I nodded. "I understand the need for food, for the taste of blood. But I was smart to avoid civilization for so long."

"Which is why I'm far less a monster. I can blend into society just fine, Skadi. Unlike you, a child who lived in the woods her whole life, living like a filthy mutt."

I felt my body vibrating.

"Keep your head," Taryn muttered.

"But it seems even a feral dog can be tamed." Rimir simply grinned before he jumped down and summoned a ward spell in his left hand and a fire spell in his right before his eyes glazed over.

"Well, that stare is awfully familiar," Taryn grumbled as she glanced at me. "What's he doing?"

I could hear Taryn's words clearly, but it sounded as if I was in a canyon, her words echoing as I felt another person talking, or getting ready to talk.

"This hunt is over," Hircine's voice said. "My brother and I grow bored of watching nothing. Kill him."

Rimir recovered first. "My Lord demands your deaths, dogs!"

"Odd," I said as I drew my dagger and my sword. "Hircine commands your death as well."

Rimir bared his fangs at me, a growl emanating from his throat while my own snarl bounced off of the cavern walls.

Hiemdall wanted a bloodbath… Well, he got one.