Close...they grew closer after each hunt. Soon it would be enough to set loose his army upon the world. Viperish Night quickens his pace to the throne room, so they may feast and then once more hunt. Viperish Night laughs to himself. He is starting to use his Egg-mother's terminology. A smile crosses his face. He wants to go hunting with his Egg-mother again, she is just as vicious as the rest of them, though she did not relish it as much, yet. In time, perhaps she would. Perhaps the look of pain he saw in her eyes from time to time would at last fade. She sought to hide it from him, but Viperish Night saw and a small part of him flinched from it. He did not want her to suffer. After they hunted and killed his Egg-father he would remove the collar from her neck and she would truly be one of them and not a pet. He was a slave once...he had no desire to keep his Egg-mother like this.
Zirasha flows through the halls of the crypt as mist and heads outside, reforming in the snow, the sun setting and casting it in bloody light. She walks softly toward the cliff, her eyes puzzled. She stops and crosses her arms across her chest. "Why are you naked?" Zirasha says.
Tyranius turns around. "Girl, if I was naked I doubt I'd be in the damn snow," he says.
Zirasha hisses softly. "Brute. But a brute without armor. I could rip your throat out now." She smiles, her fangs glimmering in the last rays of the sun.
Tyranius crosses his arms across his chest. "Try it. Might be fun."
Zirasha eyes Tyranius and then shrugs. "No fun when you're expecting it. I thought about coming into your room and tasting you, but I figured you slept in that damn armor."
"It is being repaired," Tyranius says. "Damn Telvanni surprised me. It can take a lot, but been a while since it's been touched up." Tyranius laughs. "They are starting to protect the villages better. Hiding their presence to try and catch us unawares. It's going to get a lot more interesting from here on out."
"Good," Zirasha says. "It's too easy. The blood does not taste as sweet when it's so easy to get. I want the blood of heroes."
A look crosses over Tyranius's face and he turns to head back in. "We need to meet up with Viperish Night," Tyranius says abruptly and walks past Zirasha towards the entrance. He stops to look back at her. "Sleeping with wolfy was creepy enough when she did not know you were doing it, girl. She's gonna bite you one of these times." Tyranius laughs and heads inside.
Zirasha hisses angrily and stalks after him. "Shut up, Brute. I have my damn reasons."
Jeziasi wakes and for a few moments, she just lies there staring at the stone walls. The nights of mayhem and slaughter...it was starting to become a little easier. Jeziasi finds herself slipping more and more into the simplicity of hunter vs hunted. No right or wrong, guilty or innocent. She knew she was becoming what Hircine would want in a champion, a merciless hunter who did not concern themselves with such petty things as sides. Jeziasi was with her son and that is now what guided her path. What she was helping him do... did still weigh heavy on her soul after a lifetime of fighting for Nirn. Always for Nirn, never for a single person. It's why she could go on after seeing her allies die. Why she could even kill a friend. Why she never stayed in one place and why she left everyone behind time and time again. What she had not realized that being that way only blinded her, made her overconfident and so sure that nothing she did would hurt anything in the long run. Never had she devoted herself to one person that was not herself this much. Disregarding everything to do so...Jeziasi closes her eyes. Viperish Night, he was becoming more and more lost in the dark. She knew a small part of him was not lost, was still here because of her. But one day she may lose even that and still, she would walk beside him. The Band of T'zlich was not helping, it was sheer darkness and malevolence, but if she tried to take it from him she would fail and that small part of him that was not lost in the dark would be annihilated by her betrayal, and so she never would. Jeziasi's eyes open and she rises, gathering her clothes and armor to dress.
Dinner has just come to an end when a portal snaps open near the entrance to the tomb. Viperish Night's eyes narrow as he starts to hiss under his breath. It must be Mannimarco, yet again. But it is not Mannimarco that steps from the portal, but Swims-in-Silence.
The room falls silent. Zirasha stands and starts to edge away from the table and Tyranius rises as well. Viperish Night stills, his eyes take in all of Swims-in-Silence, the ebony black scales, twin ridges of horns, the blue-grey eyes. It is the first time Viperish Night has seen his Egg-father in person. Only in his dreams and memories not his own has he set his eyes on him. And now? Now he knows just who and what Swims-in-Silence is. Viperish Night's eyes probe for the truth, for the Daedric Prince behind this mortal form. It is the eyes that give it away. Eyes that contain darkness and malevolentness and hints of something utterly unfathomable.
Jeziasi also freezes, her hands curl as she tries to will her heart to calm. She is not prey, not again. She will hunt him, soon. But fear still permeates her blood, the heavy weight of the collar and chain reminding her just how trapped she is. Viperish Night's eye darts to hers briefly before returning his focus onto Swims-in-Silence as he stalks toward them.
Swims-in-Silence's eyes move to Zirasha and Tyranius. "Leave us," Swims-in-Silence tells them. Both turn to Viperish Night and only when he nods slightly do they leave, Zirasha forming to mist to flow deeper into the tomb, Tyranius passing by Swims-in-Silence to wait outside the entrance.
Viperish Night glares at Swims-in-Silence and then suddenly he leans back and smiles, showing every one of his glittering fangs. "You told me to find you, yet here you are, Egg-father." Viperish Night hisses. Swims-in-Silence stops in front of the throne, his eyes studying Viperish Night's for long moments. A brief glance at Jeziasi before he turns his attention back to Viperish Night. Viperish Night tilts his head slightly. "Yes, I know who and what you are now." Viperish Night adds, his claws running over the chain.
A fanged grin comes over Swims-in-Silence's face. "Once, you were weak. I would have culled you if not for Mannimarco insisting he could fix it. Fix the weakness I saw in you. Now?" Swims-in-Silence laughs. "You've slaughtered so very many, more brutally than I would have once thought you capable of. You send them to my realm, and you intend to send ALL of them in time." Swims-in-Silence throws back his head and laughs.
Viperish Night's eyes never leave Swims-in-Silence. Mannimarco was right. Icy dark and unfathomable evil in those eyes, but also obsession with the hints of madness such brings. He came to claim what he thought was his. Viperish Night's eyes narrow and he resists the urge to glance down at his Egg-mother, he can feel her tense under the leash but he must not show any weakness to this monster, no actual concern for her, and so he ignores her to focus solely on Swims-in-Silence. "Not for you," Viperish Night finally says, anger coloring his voice. "I despise the living and their endless hunger for blood and death. That is the reason I will purge them from Nirn, what happens to their souls is inconsequential."
"Only for that?" Swims-in-Silence asks him, moving a step closer. "I see the truth in your eyes, you like being this strong. You enjoy the sheer brutality, the pleasure of your slaughters." As he watches Viperish Night's eyes narrow he adds, "Do not lie, if it was just to cleanse them, you would not enter the fray yourself. You would just let the undead do it for you. You could even turn your back from the slaughter, but you watch, join in. Swim in the blood of the mortals and drag the whole of Nirn into it." a twisted smile crosses his face. "You are my son, after all."
Viperish Night's claws rake against the throne as he angrily hisses again. But he finds he cannot deny Swims-in-Silence's words. The attack on the towns had gone far beyond merely purging the living and creating an unstoppable army. The feel of blood on his claws, of the living, screaming and dying before him and his allies. Knowing that he could no longer be hurt, he could make the whole of Nirn hurt instead for all that had been done to him. Viperish Night lowers his head slightly and Swims-in-Silence's laughter rings in his ears. Viperish Night starts to snarl, his body tensing. The temptation to spring forth and rend Swims-in-Silence to pieces was near overwhelming. Was he as powerful in this form as Mannimarco had claimed? A glimmer of blue necromantic energy runs through Viperish Night's eyes and the Draugr stir in their alcoves.
Swims-in-Silence falls silent and his eyes narrow as he reads Viperish Night's intent. "You would dare strike me?" Swims-in-Silence raises one clawed hand and portals start to form around the throne room.
Viperish Night freezes, it would take far too long for the rest of the dead of this tomb to stream into the throne room from the catacombs below. As much as he wants to spring, Viperish Night forces his anger down and the Draugr quiet.
Swims-in-Silence lowers his hand, the portals dissipating. "All of Coldharber answers to my call," Swims-in-Silence hisses. "Remember that before you act so foolishly."
"Wanting to murder you is foolish?" Viperish Night says softly. "I have no mercy for any who threw me into the depths. You, Mannimarco, even Nirn itself."
Darkness and anger grow in Swims-in-Silence's eyes and he takes yet another step forward. "You wish to murder me for making you strong?" Swims-in-Silence asks. "My essence runs through you, you would be nothing without it. With it? With it, you will make this world submit to you before you kill them all. And I can give you so much more when you are done."
Viperish Night leans back forcing himself to relax. "I do not care about after, Egg-father," Viperish Night says and then tilts his head. It is still strange to think about, the truth of all this. "That is still an impossible truth," he adds.
"Is it?" Swims-in-Silence regards Viperish Night's words and then turns his attention to Jeziasi and starts toward her before Viperish Night's furious hiss stops him.
"She is MY pet, not yours any longer." Viperish Night snaps at Swims-in-Silence. "You will not go near her or touch her."
"Pet?" Swims-in-Silence says as his attention moves to the chain in Viperish Night's claws as if noticing it for the first time. His gaze moves down it to Jeziasi, the collar around her neck.
Jeziasi has remained still and silent this whole time. Nearly frozen in place being this close to him again. Before, she had not known the truth that she should have known. Shadowfen, those three weeks she was with him flashes through her mind, and it's all she can do to push them away, to control herself. She wants to flee or attack. Primal emotions, drowning out the common sense of the mer. But this is the way Viperish Night told her it must be, and so she gives in to the more primal side and growls softly. Viperish Night tugs at the chain. "Quiet," he snarls and she falls silent again.
Swims-in-Silence stares at this for long moments then throws his head back and laughs, the sound sending chills down Jeziasi's spine. "Even I never put a leash on her," Swims-in-Silence says and his gaze snaps back to Jeziasi. "Would you have let me in Shadowfen, Jeziasi? I wonder. You let me do so many other things."
Jeziasi curls her hand into fists as she lowers her head, hair falling over her eyes. If she could only change, she would in this moment. Even if that kind of hunt was doomed to failure she would try. Try to rend him to bloody pieces, as if that would be enough to purge the memories from her mind.
"How?" Viperish Night suddenly snaps, bringing Swims-in-Silence's attention back to him, slight puzzlement in his eyes at the change of subject. Viperish Night looks at him, then at Jeziasi briefly before turning gaze back to Swims-in-Silence. "How?" Viperish Night asks again.
"If you really want to know..." Swims-in-Silence slowly says as he figures out what Viperish Night is asking. Again his eyes move to Jeziasi. "A mix of the natural process and Daedric magic. My Daedra conducted so many experiments during the Planemeld, it was a matter of adapting what they learned to my purposes," his eyes flicker briefly on Jeziasi before returning to Viperish Night and continuing. "I took what I needed from her after, while she slept and along with the Daedric magic, the eggs was formed. Though only your egg survived."
Viperish Night hisses in fury and lies the chain down before leaping off the throne in front of Swims-in-Silence. Viperish Night's claws flash as he strikes at Swims-in-Silence. Swims-in-Silence hisses and a burst of icy blue light flashes and throws Viperish Night crashing into this throne. "A temper tantrum, really?" Swims-in-Silence hisses. "I would not think you would care so much what has been done to your pet."
Viperish Night hisses in pain then slowly stands, his eyes full of murderous fury. "She is mine," Viperish Night hisses again. "I will not let anyone touch what is mine."
Swims-in-Silence stares at Viperish Night before understanding crosses his face. He can see the hatred in Viperish Night's eyes directed at him. "You hate me that much, you would not let me near anything of yours," his eyes narrow slightly before he speaks again. "The process did not hurt her. And she willingly gave herself to me. I did not force her." Swims-in-Silence's gaze once more moves to Jeziasi. "Did I, Jeziasi?"
Jeziasi pales and shuts her eyes. No...he did not, on that he is right. Jeziasi opens her eyes and raises her head to look at Viperish Night, who reads her eyes and calms slightly as he settles back into his throne, folding his claws together as his gaze returns to Swims-in-Silence. "What do you want?" Viperish Night asks changing the subject. He already knows, but he wants to hear it for himself. He will never trust just Mannimarco's words, never again.
"You are giving me what I wanted in the first place, Viperish Night," Swims-in-Silence responds. and his gaze moves back and forth between Viperish Night and Jeziasi. "Now I want both of you. End Nirn, then come to Coldharbour and we will rule over all the souls of this world together. You are my son, and Jeziasi is my mate."
Viperish Night studies Swims-in-Silence his eyes simmering with near uncontrolled hatred. He wants to kill his Egg-father more than ever, wants to rend him into bloody meat as slowly as possible before he dies. "You sound very mad," Viperish Night says. "A Daedric Prince, wanting THAT?"
Swims-in-Silence snarls at his tone. "Full of such insolence. You will need to learn obedience," he says.
No answer, Viperish Night's eyes narrow. Does he even HAVE an answer that makes sense? "Never," Viperish Night answers him. "You may have made me, helped turn me into a monster, but I am my own monster, not yours."
"In time, you will change your mind," Swims-in-Silence says, his eyes boring into Viperish Night's before turning to Jeziasi. "Hers might not." Again, Jeziasi growls at him and he laughs slightly, his eyes moving from her to Viperish Night a curious look crossing them before he turns and stalks out of the throne room.
Viperish Night stares after him for a long moment before turning to Jeziasi. "Can you do this?" Viperish Night breaths softly. Jeziasi's eyes close as she shudders softly before reopening to focus on his and she slowly nods. She will do what she must to hunt him with her son.
Swims-in-Silence walks out of the throne room and pauses. Tyranius stands by the entrance, arms crossed. "Bring me Jeziasi," Swims-in-Silence orders as he stalks outside into the snow.
Tyranius watches him go and then turns and heads back into the throne room, walking up to Viperish Night and stopping. "Swims-in-Silence wants to talk to you, alone pup," Tyranius tells him. "He went deeper into the tomb to see how many Draugr you have."
Viperish Night's eyes narrow. They must go along with this for now...to an extent. "Stay with Jeziasi," Viperish Night orders as he stalks out into the snow.
Tyranius waits until he's gone before approaching Jeziasi. She's resting by the throne, eyes closed. The meeting shook her and Tyranius studies her for a moment before wrapping the chain around his fist. "Come along, wolfy," he says. Jeziasi's eyes bolt open and she stares at Tyranius. "You look like a deer with that look in your eyes," Tyranius adds.
Jeziasi's fingers curl and she slowly snarls. "You would go against Viperish Night?"
Tyranius yanks the chain forcing Jeziasi to her feet. "Its complicated. Do not make me ask you again, wolfy," Tyranius says.
Jeziasi narrows her eyes and starts to snarl. The fear and anger that has surged in her since Swims-in-Silence appeared erupts and she suddenly surges towards Tyranius and slams her fist into his face, sending him staggering back. "Damn it," Tyranius snarls and yanks the chain causing Jeziasi to stumble and he grabs the collar with his other hand and lifts her up.
Zirasha appears behind Tyranius snarling. "Damn it brute, what are you thinking?" Zirasha grabs his arm with her hand, her claws digging bloody grooves into his flesh. "Might have to bite you after all," she snarls.
Tyranius drops Jeziasi and swings a fist at Zirasha who ghosts into mist and reappears on his other side lunging at him with her fangs. He leaps back and Jeziasi slams both palms into his chest sending him stumbling back. Zirasha lunges at him with her fangs and Tyranius snarls, his form shimmering as his armor appears covering him head to toe. He grabs a surprised Zirasha and throws her to the floor, then snatches the chain and lifts Jeziasi off the floor again. "Damn it you two, stop it now!" Tyranius snaps.
Jeziasi struggles in Tyranius's grip and then stills as the realization hit her. Ever since she woke up something about him puzzled her. Something she could feel but was not sure what it was, or why she felt it. "You're his champion," she snarls. Zirasha has lept up and is staring in shock and anger.
Tyranius shrugs at the two. "Since the war," he answers. As Jeziasi starts to struggle again he brings her closer why Zirasha starts to stalk toward him again. "Listen you two. It's Mannimarco I owe the favor to, not him. Today was the first time I talked to him since the war. Fact is, I like Viperish Night better." Tyranius pauses. "Not stupid. I know what you and Viperish Night are trying to do. Just go with it, you want this to work, stop fighting. You're acting like a pet wolfy right now, remember?" Jeziasi stills, though the look in her eyes is furious. Tyranius smirks. "Your more than just Hircine's wolf, or almost. I can tell. Not told Viperish Night that, have you?" Tyranius lowers Jeziasi to the floor, though retains iron grip on the chain.
Jeziasi snarls softly. If he is loyal to Swims-in-Silence... then they have lost the hunt before they have even started. If he is telling the truth about being on her son's side... There is no choice but to trust him, for now. "Not yet worthy," Jeziasi says. "You better be telling the truth, or I will find a way to kill you before Swims-in-Silence destroys us all."
"Thought he got all his blood-thirst from his dad," Tyranius says with a smirk. "Looks like some of that fire comes from you, as well." Tyranius regards her. "Gonna be good now?"
The rage builds in Jeziasi's eyes, along with a hint of fear before she wills her eyes to turn cold and she at last looks aside.
Zirasha hisses louder and Tyranius glances at her. "I'll stay near her, girl. Viperish Night told me to, after all," he tells her.
"You better, you damn brute." Zirasha hisses.
Jeziasi glances at both of them. Zirasha was...oddly protective of her. She chooses to focus on that and it helps her heartbeat to slow somewhat.
Tyranius tugs on the chain. "Come wolfy, before he wonders what's taken so long." Jeziasi forces herself to walk behind him.
Zirasha looks at the two. "Tyranius," she says and he turns his head to look at her. "You better tell Viperish Night later." He nods and leads Jeziasi out.
Tyranius takes Jeziasi out into the cold and snow. The chill of the mountain's night air reminds Jeziasi far too much of Coldharbour and she starts shivering and can't seem to stop. Tyranius turns his head to give her a look and she thinks, perhaps she should not try to stop. Be Viperish Night's pet, let Swims-in-Silence believe he can have them in time, despite everything that monster has done.
Tyranius stops near the cliff and Swims-in-Silence is standing before it looking out. Tyranius moves behind Jeziasi and shoves her down on her knees, keeping a heavy hand on her shoulder. Swims-in-Silence turns and his eyes fall on Jeziasi. Those eyes...the eyes of her greatest enemy, the eyes she gave herself to, the eyes that sought to dominate and control utterly. How had she not known? How could one be so blind? Jeziasi drops her eyes unable to keep them locked onto his. Swims-in-Silence stalks toward her and glances sharply at Tyranius.
"Vicious little attack dog our wolfy is," Tyranius says. "She may bite, without Viperish Night here to bring her to heel. I'll keep watch on wolfy here why you talk to her."
It takes all Jeziasi has not to snarl, to attack, to do anything but kneel in the snow as Swims-in-Silence moves closer to her. Jeziasi's skin crawls, how had he kept her instincts down to such an extent that she would continue to ignore them even when he... Jeziasi's fingers claw at the snowy ground as Swims-in-Silence stops in front of her. Jeziasi closes her eyes, she must hunt him, must find a way, but now... for now... she struggles to remain calm, even though her calm and strength threaten to leave her.
"On her knees, properly leashed," Swims-in-Silence hisses and Jeziasi's pulse quickens. His voice is far different in Swims-in-Silence than his true form. Argonian, deception wrapped in scales. Jeziasi had grown attached to the Argonian's and their culture after the war, one reason she had settled in Shadowfen. She had even thought of one day attempting to enter Black Marsh. It is true he needed to be Argonian for his plan, but the fact is she would more easily go with an Argonian than another race. She had found them to be undeceptive, open.
Swims-in-Silence crouches in front of her. "You would not speak to me in the throne room, and still you show me only silence? You are my bonded mate, Jeziasi. You should speak with me." Jeziasi flinches. She tries to hide it but by his laughter, she knows she has failed. Swims-in-Silence raises his clawed hand and grips her face with it. "Collared, chained, no attempt to fight this. You refused submission during the war, submitted to me in this form and now..." he trails off and studies her. "Open your eyes," Swims-in-Silence hisses. Tyranius's grip on her shoulder tightens as if telling her to obey. She has no recourse but to trust that his loyalty does lie with her son and not his Prince at this moment and so she slowly opens her eyes. Swims-in-Silence studies them for long moments. "You submit to our son," he finishes, and with a fanged smile, he rises. "In time, Viperish Night will accept that I have given him such power, enough for his hate to fade and for us to walk together." Jeziasi softly growls and Swims-in-Silence laughs again. "You think not? The band will utterly corrupt him in time, when he finishes cleansing this world we will walk in Coldharber together, with all the souls of Nirn under our feet. And then you will have no choice but to walk by my side, for you will never stray from his, is that not right? Is that not what I see in your eyes?" The blood drains from Jeziasi's face and her eyes fill with horror. She meant what she said, that she would follow Viperish Night into Oblivion. It just never occurred to her that if they failed to hunt Swims-in-Silence that could be the result if Viperish Night was not stopped. Swims-in-Silence was right... if it came to that... if that is what Viperish Night wanted...she would. Jeziasi drops her head. Swims-in-Silence laughs. "That is what I thought," he turns from her. "I will return when next Viperish Night hunts. I want to watch you murder innocents, Jeziasi. I want to see you covered in their blood." he laughs once more and a portal opens and he walks through and is gone.
Jeziasi lets Tyranius lead her back to the throne room where Viperish Night is pacing back and forth angrily as Zirasha has cautioned him to stay, despite his desire to rush out in the snow. Viperish Night hisses as they come in and he stalks to them, holding out his clawed hand. Tyranius puts the chain in Viperish Night's claws and Viperish Night just stares at him with fury in his eyes as the Draugr stir from their alcoves. "He can't spy on us, pup," Tyranius says. "Mannimarco made sure of that."
"I should tear you apart," Viperish Night says.
"Told you not to trust me, pup," Tyranius says. "But back then I did not know you." Tyranius suddenly drops to his knees before Viperish Night, kneeling before him. "As I told Zirasha and Jeziasi, I like you better. Damn my Prince, if that remains your wish."
Viperish Night stares down at Tyranius in shock and then turns to Jeziasi, a question in his eyes. He should not trust him or this, but...
"Tyranius stayed with me, Just as you asked him." Jeziasi says. "If he is with his Prince, we are damned. We have no choice but to trust he's not."
Viperish Night's gaze moves back to Tyranius as Zirasha moves closer. She stares at the scene, and Tyranius moves his eyes from the floor to her. "Since we are debating loyalty here girl, need to ask how where you made?"
Zirasha stills, not even breathing. It is not in her nature to share her past, the fact that Tyranius knows still makes her hiss in fury. But this right now? If she said nothing...her gaze moves to Viperish Night. Tyranius had tested things by withholding the truth, by following orders to take Jeziasi to Swims-in-Silence. She understands and so she speaks. "Swims-in-Silence threw me through a portal and after that...everything was unending icy darkness, agonizing pain, being torn apart until the world almost ceased to be and then blood being forced into me, blood that burned like frigid ice."
"Damn it..." Tyranius breaths.
Viperish Night tilts his head. "What does that mean?" he asks.
"Zirasha was not infected with the vampiric virus. She was created. She is an original. He did this." Tyranius answers.
"Swims-in-Silence..." Viperish Night hisses.
"No, pup. His other self." Tyranius says.
Zirasha's eyes look lost briefly before they harden. "I do not regret it!" she snarls. "He kept his promise, I am without fear and never can be caught!" Zirasha then drops to her knees. "But it is Viperish Night I follow. Viperish Night's genocide that quickens my blood. I have no loyalty to any other."
Jeziasi touches Viperish Night's hand briefly before she also kneels. "I may yet become Hircine's champion, Viperish Night. Still, I hunt with you, until the very end," she says softly.
Viperish Night gazes at the three of them, struggling to keep his expression closed. He does not want to show his emotions, to show that this rather astonishes him. Thoughts of betrayal stir in his head, those he has trusted in the past have always betrayed him, either with treachery or when death has taken him. He should not accept this, but...he finds he wants to and so he throws back his head and laughs. "We will hunt Swims-in-Silence, along with all of Nirn!" he shouts as his eyes glimmer. "Mannimarco as well, though I can wait until the end to eviscerate him, he has his uses till then." Viperish Night clicks his claws together. "Rise, and let us go hunt. We have not done so tonight. It's time to target Wrothgar."
Tyranius rises with a grin. "Orcs! They should give us a hella of a fight," he explains.
Zirasha rises as well. "I have yet to taste Orc blood. I want some Orc blood!" she says with a fanged grin.
Jeziasi rises as well. "He may watch us. He said as much, Viperish Night," she tells him.
Viperish Night's response is to laugh. "All of us show no mercy, if he wants to watch us brutally kill some Orcs, let him." Viperish Night snaps open a portal and Zirasha and Tyranius cross through.
Viperish Night starts to follow, leading Jeziasi but she softly speaks. "Wait." Viperish Night pauses and Jeziasi moves closer, resting a hand on his back. "You could be lost to this, Viperish Night. He could claim you, with this road you travel down, despite your hate, your desire to murder him that I share with you." Viperish Night tenses under her hold and Jeziasi trembles slightly. "I am not telling you to change, Viperish Night. I am not telling you what river to swim in. I will follow you to the ends of Nirn and beyond. All I want you to know right now is what the cost may be."
Viperish Night stills and his head drops. "Egg-mother..." he breaths. "I will not let him have either of us. But it's too late to swim in another river. I am lost, and will drown the world for it." Viperish Night walks through the portal and Jeziasi has little recourse but to follow as if she would or could do anything else at this point.
-Deep in the mountains of Wrothgar-
Viperish Night stands near the keep, necromantic energy flowing from him into the ground. There is an abundance of the dead in these mountains and the Ogre and Troll skeletons assault the walls of the keep even as he raises Orcs, bears, Echatere, and more. There are so many skeletons rising from the ground, the mountains, they flow around the group as if they are a river unto themselves. Tyranius heaves his scythe. "I'd say overkill, pup, but I'm not fond of family reunions myself." Viperish Night glances at him and hisses and Tyranius laughs. "I know pup! Kill them all." Tyranius moves to the keep as the walls start to fall under the assault and a wave of Orc's stream out screaming for Malacath. Zirasha surges into her mist form, reforming amid a group of them, enjoying slicing them with daggers before turning her fangs onto them.
Jeziasi moves close to Viperish Night, her daggers in her hands. The feel of eyes watching her sends chills down her spine and she softly whispers to him. "He's watching us, Viperish Night."
Viperish Night's claws find his swords. "Be bad, pet." Viperish Night hisses back. "Kill them without mercy for me...and for our hunt." Viperish Night starts to stalk towards the Orcs, murder in his eyes and Jeziasi follows her son. This night has shaken them both, and though she knows it's wrong, she lets herself go, losing herself in the slaughter. Burying it all under so much blood.
Viperish Night stands in the middle of the Orc keep after, the skeletons of the fallen rising all around him. Jeziasi is at his back, blood dripping onto the snow from her daggers, breath coming in harsh pants. Viperish Night lost his swords to the chaos and gave in to the urge to rend the Orcs with his claws, they are sticky with their blood. His eyes dive into the shadows and at last, he sees his Egg-father, watching from the edge of the keep with a twisted grin on his face. Viperish Night watches him for long moments until Swims-In-Silence turns and vanishes. It is with a strange pain that Viperish Night realizes he may be more like that monster then...his gaze turns to his Egg-mother. He was more like her, once. Before the river drowned him. Jeziasi glances at him back, her eyes seem more like a wild creature for a few moments before they settle. This night has been so very long, but they cannot rest yet. If he sends them home after this one keep... Viperish Night turns from Jeziasi as Tyranius and Zirasha move to them. "We keep going till the dawn," Viperish Night says as he opens another portal, to another part of Wrothgar, another keep.
-Skyrim Tomb-
Sleep is like a distant dream and so Viperish Night wanders the depths of the crypt. The dead's eyes follow him, they know their master. Swims-In-Silence's words trouble him, the truth of it all troubles him, and his Egg-mothers words trouble him. Viperish Night has no desires beyond this world, he never once thought of what he would do once he ended Nirn. Would he wander among the quiet dead until he died? His eyes show slight puzzlement. What would his Egg-mother do after? Zirasha, Tyranius? He said he would end all the living, and those three lived. Though did vampires count as the living? Viperish Night hisses softly and suddenly stops. He would not end them...he had no desire to do so. As long as they never betrayed him... but still, what came after? Viperish Night's hiss turns angry and he turns and stalks to his room. These thoughts were pointless. There was still so much left to do. After did not matter.
It takes a long time to wash the blood off. Far too long. Jeziasi stares into the water for long moments, water dripping from her hair, the once clean water stained with so much blood. Her head spins and she closes her eyes briefly before she dresses and heads to bed.
A voice calling to her. Jeziasi opens her eyes to inky darkness with the barest trace of light in the distance, and it is so cold, a cold that goes beyond flesh and bone, a cold that sears your soul, yet leaves your body unharmed so there is not even the hope of death to escape it. Jeziasi draws a startled breath in and then dashes for the light, bursting out of the darkness she found herself in. She finds herself on a cliff of obsidian black rock and icy wind slices through her. Jeziasi's eyes dart in every direction, her hands flexing as if they are claws. She does not want to look up, but she must and it is the icy dusk that seems to cover everything in a deathly gloom. Jeziasi steps backward toward the darkness, instincts...no it is her fear that is telling her to flee. But she must not be prey, so she forces one foot in front of the other trying to control the shaking that has gripped her and she notices an Argonian standing at the edge of the cliff. He turns to look at her and Jeziasi quickens her pace seeing that it is Viperish Night, but as she draws near her son she slows and halts. His eyes always are so dark, but now? Not even the smallest trace of anything else can be seen. Just icy dark and infinite cruelty. Viperish Night stalks the final steps to stand in front of her.
"Egg-mother, you will stay." It is not a question and Jeziasi's heart sinks. This is what she fears, this future. All she can do though now is nod and stand by his side, Coldharber spread out before them. There are so many souls, beyond counting. All the souls of Nirn, ended by Viperish Night and his massive army of the undead...and she had helped him. Jeziasi swallows as her eyes rack across what had been living people, now they are but soul shriven and they belong to him. A Khajiit soul shriven below stops and looks up at her and her heart stops. Jeziasi starts to back away until Viperish Night tilts his head as he follows her gaze. "What's wrong, Egg-mother? You're the one that cut him down when he tried to take my life. I just sought to spare you so I had one of my undead finish him so you would not have to."
The world seems to spin. "O..of course," Jeziasi manages to say and she closes her eyes briefly to try and center herself. When she opens them Viperish Night is utterly still. She touches his arm puzzled.
"So this is what you dream about now?"
Jeziasi freezes, she cannot turn around but she must. She must hunt him...but is it too late? Confusion crosses her face and then clears as realization dawns. this is a dream, or rather a nightmare pulled from her darkest fears of the future, that Viperish Night will somehow succeed and submit to his Egg-father and she would follow him, for she must follow her son. Before she can turn around, claws touch her neck and she cringes at the icy touch. "You're not answering me again, Jeziasi."
Anger flared through her. She wants to turn now, become her wolf, and tear him apart. But she has not yet earned her wolf back and her instincts scream at her, and she has learned the hard way what happens when she fails to listen to them. This was a nightmare, but it was also far too real. Viperish Night told her of how his dreams tortured him, how Swims-In-Silence tormented him. This was Swims-In-Silence behind her. If she turned and attacked him...he would grow suspicious of them, he knew both of them wanted to kill him, but perhaps not that she was only acting submissive for the hunt. The dream version of Viperish Night turns and walks toward her his eyes narrowed slightly. Jeziasi fights against her rage and drops to her knees before him on the cold rocky ground. As the dream breaks apart the last thing she hears is Swims-In-Silence's laughter.
The cold is replaced by warmth, the stone ground with grass. Jeziasi raises her head, Hircine in his Arawn form is leaning against a tree watching her and she rises. "He will not know I called you here, only that something woke you," Hircine tells her.
Jeziasi slowly rises. "Is... is it right to act submissive to hunt? It seems against my nature, it is nearly more than I can bear," she admits.
Hircine replies, "Each hunt is different, each prey unique. The prey that are the hunters are the most difficult of all. The hunt must succeed, no matter the path taken to get there." Jeziasi slowly nods looking troubled and Hircine shakes his head at her and she can see a ghost of horns. He reads her far too easily. "Hunt the frail and sickly and hunt the strong, it matters not. Only the hunt matters." Jeziasi's eyes fill with conflict. "You must shed these mortal concerns to truly be my champion and hunt this prey. You know this. Hunt those you think are innocent to convince your prey you're a monster. That he can finish corrupting you and your son and lay claim to you both."
To Hircine innocent was just a mortal word that held no meaning and Jeziasi feels almost lost. Yet she knows he is right and her thoughts drift to Viperish Night. "Viperish Night, does he not desire to take all prey from you?" she asks. "Though I will never hunt him, not even for you, my Prince."
Hircine laughs. "This is true, but this is a hunt like no other as well. Without you, there are only two possible predictable outcomes. With you, the possibilities are more uncertain and much more interesting. I am looking forward to watching you hunt." he says. And then his eyes narrow and the forest seems to shrink from him. "Do not fail me, Jeziasi. Do what you must to hunt, and when you need it I will grant you my power. Prove yourself and rend your fangs and claws upon your prey until he is so much meat. I will not stand any other outcome." His words echo in the forest even as it fades, the waking world calling Jeziasi once more.
