Viperish Night shivers, cold wracking his spine. He had howled at Tyranius until he left, then howled at Nirn, his claws scratching new rends in the stone until they bled. Only then did he fall to the floor, quickly curling into a ball shaking until sleep came for him.
Viperish Night's eyes open, and an eerie ethereal pool of blue greets him as he sits up and looks around. The air is frigid, soul-deep and Viperish Night suddenly leaps up with an angry snarl. "How dare you use this on me, again." Viperish Night hisses. Viperish Night's eyes glow and the dream starts to shimmer, on the verge of breaking.
"Would you shatter the dream before I speak to you?" Swims-In-Silence says as he moves from the shadows to stand by the pool, his eyes focused on Viperish Night.
Viperish Night starts to snarl yes, but something stops him. A thought, horrific and he steps toward his Egg-father, who stares at him with a baleful gaze and a twisted grin. Those eyes...such unfathomable evil. Had Swims-In-Silence used this on his Egg-mother? Horror creeps down Viperish Night's spine but Tyranius's words also echo. This monster in mortal form cannot have the power over them he seems to think he has. Viperish Night tilts his head and stalks closer to his Egg-father. "You have not been playing with my pet behind my back, have you?" Viperish Night softly hisses.
"And if I have?" Swims-In-Silence says, and at Viperish Night's furious hiss Swims-In-Silence laughs. "She would tell you if I had, surely."
"What do you want?" Viperish Night says.
Swims-In-Silence runs his eyes down Viperish Night, halting on his bloody claws. "Is this what you want? To be in such agony every moment of the day?"
Viperish Night curls his claws. "The living is the cause. The pain will end when they end."
"Such a slow process," Swims-In-Silence says and holds out his hand. "Would it not be easier to accept your Daedric side, embrace it? Throw away the last remnants of weakness that plague you?" he asks. At Viperish Night's venomous look he adds, "You will not lose anything, your pet will stay with you, won't she?"
Chills once more run down Viperish Night's spine. Her words come back to him, Tyranius's as well. She said she would follow him into Oblivion. Tyranius said she would drown for him. Even if he gave himself over to his Egg-Father...Molag Bal. Viperish Night hisses. "Never, Egg-father. I will kill you in whatever way I can."
Swims-In-Silence's eyes narrow. "It is your weakness that holds you back, causes you pain. Your river will drown it in time. The end result will be the same, you will walk with me. How much agony you put yourself through is up to you." He laughs as the dream fades.
Jeziasi slowly wakes, feeling rested for the first time in a long time...and somehow lighter. Jeziasi sits up and when Zirasha insists on brushing her hair, she lets her.
"Jeziasi," Zirasha says. "That brute figured something out last night." She had come to tell Jeziasi but found her in sleep, and for once it seemed peaceful. So Zirasha had just curled up by her and went to sleep as well.
Jeziasi's eye moves to Zirasha as Zirasha braids her hair. "I know," Jeziasi says softly. "Hircine told me." Jeziasi swallows softly. "I thought I was a fool not just for going with him but staying with him so long. Turns out I was just a fool for the first part. He bound me, controlled me. When he told me to sleep, it caused my instincts to sleep. So I would not wake to the truth."
Zirasha growls softly. "He forced you then, in a way. If he had not quieted your instincts...you never would have continued to..." Zirasha shakes softly.
The truth slowly dawns on Jeziasi and she turns to Zirasha. "You are always saying being a vampire took away your fear, but not why you were so afraid. Someone..." Jeziasi trails off.
"Someones," Zirasha said softly, fangs glimmering. "Tyranius brought me every single one of them. Let me end them so very painfully. It's why I don't mind the brute, despite being an Imperial, a Zero Legion. He's not like the ones that hurt me." Zirasha's eyes glimmer. "I would threaten to bite you know if you told anyone I said anything about this. But you won't. So I'll just finish with your hair. If you turn around." Zirasha adds a hiss and Jeziasi turns to let her finish.
"Is that why you stayed here with me?" Jeziasi whispers. "When I was lost?"
"Maybe I just like smelling werewolf blood when I sleep," Zirasha says as she finishes with Jeziasi's hair. "I did not know your truth. I just...felt kinship with you, somehow."
Jeziasi turns back to Zirasha, in her old life if she had come across her it would have ended in bloody battle. Jeziasi had fought against many hunters, many who preyed on the sheep, on Nirn. But now... "We are pack," Jeziasi says. "Everything that happened is a nightmare, but..." Jeziasi trails off, her son is worth it, and so is her pack. It confuses her, for she has joined those who are everything she used to war against for Nirn.
"Not used to being on the other side," Zirasha teases as she gets up and moves to the entryway, poking the improvised collar and chain hanging there. "I thought I would be afraid forever, alone forever. I'm not."
Jeziasi rises. "I've been alone most of my life too. I thought I should be. The few times I tried another way, I lost. And then it became normal." Jeziasi trails off and glances at the chain.
Zirasha hisses. "Do we have to? This is barbaric. Even Tyranius does not want to lead you around like a dog anymore." Zirasha complains.
"I think we may be strong enough to resist him," Jeziasi says. "Our loyalty is to each other, it makes us strong. But... we have to be sure. We'll keep playing this game."
Zirasha takes the chain down and hisses at it. "I'm going to find a way to test him, without giving anything away. I'll spring at him when I see an opening and we'll see how far this control goes." At Jeziasi's startled look Zirasha bares fangs. "Do not argue with me! I bite! And you bite too so we would be covered in bites when we meet the boys. Do you want that?"
Jeziasi laughs. "No biting. And don't worry. I'll make this easy on you." Jeziasi says as she starts to transform, becoming the werewolf. She towers over Zirasha for a moment before dropping on all fours and slinking to her.
"Suppose that's one way," Zirasha says as she puts the collar around Jeziasi's furry neck. "Still barbaric. But makes more sense keeping a wolf as a pet than a mer." She leads Jeziasi out to the throne room.
Viperish Night sits on the throne, his claws scouring against it as he thinks of Swims-In-Silence and the dream. He knows what Tyranius has told him but to pretend to give in to Swims-In-Silence... He hisses.
"Can't do it too fast, pup," Tyranius says as he moves to Viperish Night's side, leaning against the throne. "Kneel if you must when its time, but keep a dagger for later."
Viperish Night glances at Tyranius. "You read me too easy." Viperish Night complains.
Tyranius shrugs. "Just gotta pay attention to the eyes. Everyone gives something away." He glances at Viperish Night. "Swims-In-Silence won't notice what I do. He thinks he's all-powerful, even in mortal form. Even Daedric Princes can get their head beat in." Tyranius shrugs. "Your Egg-Mother beat the shit out of him, once." Zirasha walks into the throne room with Jeziasi padding behind her. Viperish Night tilts his head and Tyranius laughs. "She's a real pet wolfy now!" Tyranius says.
Zirasha stalks to Tyranius with Jeziasi following behind her. "Should bite the brutes face for that one," she tells Jeziasi.
Jeziasi pads to Tyranius and stands up putting her heavy paws on Tyranius's shoulders as she looks at him with her golden wolf eyes. Tyranius looks right back and after long moments of looking at him she licks his face and with a huff of werewolf laughter, she drops to all fours and settles at Viperish Night's feet.
Zirasha laughs so hard she crashes to the ground and Tyranius wipes his face off. "Damn it," Tyranius says. "Knew giving my armor extra downtime was going to bite me in the face."
Viperish Night looks down at his Egg-Mother with a quizzical look in his eyes and Jeziasi looks right back at him.
"Good wolfy," Tyranius says as he crosses his arms. "You're not blaming yourself for everything anymore." Viperish Night looks at Tyranius who shrugs. "Told you, pup, eyes."
Viperish Night blinks a few times before speaking again. "We will spend the next week raising the dead in unoccupied parts of Tamriel. And then... Reaper's March, followed by Summerset. After that...my army will be ready."
A silence falls over the group. Zirasha's eyes glimmer at Summerset, Tyranius just smirks, and Jeziasi turns her head to look at him, a shadow of sorrow crossing her eyes.
-Reaper's March-
A week later Viperish Night's pack move on Reaper's March, and they ready for battle near Dune. The moons are bright in the sky as Viperish Night starts to raise the dead, and the remnants of the Wormcult prepare to help in the battle as well.
Jeziasi glances around, not yet in wolf form. She had wanted to step foot here as Mer first, before becoming the wolf. She turns her face to the moons, remembering a day that seems so long ago. "Here, I was called," she says softly, and Viperish Night pauses to turn to her. "I thought it a dream, running under the moons searching for the wild call that drove me here each night. Only when the werewolf struck, did I know it not to be a dream." Jeziasi pauses as the curious eyes of her pack as they regard her. "Prince Hircine wanted me, I suppose. Or perhaps more as if he heard me crying in the dark for something to set me free."
Viperish Night moves to Jeziasi. "The war..." he says as he tilts his head. "Not broke but..."
Jeziasi turns to him and speaks. "Perhaps damaged. I saw so much on my travels, made me doubt Y'ffre, made me doubt so much. I felt trapped, everyone looked at me as some legendary hero, and all I wanted was to be free of the cold, free of doubt, free of everything that seemed to trap me. We won the war, I beat a Daedric Prince, but nothing seemed to be alright, as if the world was off-kilter as if I was off-kilter. Hircine granted me freedom from all that."
Tyranius crosses his arms. "War is so many things. Some of us love it, live for it, have little problems with what we do in it." Tyranius shrugs. "Always been a brute hiding behind civilized Imperial visage. The war let me shed that mask." Tyranius studies Jeziasi. "It is the heroes that pay the cost for war. Because they care what happens to innocent people. Your better off on this side."
"The innocents pay too," Zirasha says softly. "If any of us are innocent to begin with." Zirasha moves off nearer to Dune, staring off into the night as she waits for the battle to start.
Viperish Night glances at Tyranius, then back at Jeziasi. His eyes shimmer in the moonlight as he regards her, regards her life before this before she started to follow him. Again a pain crosses his spine as he thinks of all she has given up for him. Everything, even her core values. And as her eyes look back at him, he sees no regret in them, only the sorrow deep in those eyes. She wishes for a better path for him but never regrets being at his side. Viperish Night moves toward Dune and once more he pushes his emotions to the depths again. His eyes flutter closed as he returns to the song that the dead sing to him, and they rise all around him, so very many, for the Wormcult has been busy murdering for him in Reaper's March for this day.
The battle is joined and is soon as chaotic as Skyrim. Viperish Night and his pack stream into Dune followed by the remnants of the Worm Cult, and the huge force of the undead. Khajiit warriors lie in wait for them, and once more portals snap open to let loose the Dominion troops to protect their own. This time Zirasha closes the portals as soon as they start to open, and the force the Dominion manages is less than at Greenshade.
"This is almost too easy," Tyranius says as his scythe flies, cutting down another of the Dominion troops.
"You did not just say that!" Zirasha hisses as she leaps onto a Khajiit, her fangs making short work of her neck. She glances up at Tyranius with feral eyes, before turning onto a Thalmor coming up behind her.
Jeziasi leaps upon the stone wall and then turns and leaps onto a Khajiit who dares get to near to Viperish Night, her fangs and claws shredding fur and flesh. She raises her eyes to Viperish Night before throwing her head back and howling at the moon.
Viperish Night throws his head back as well and laughs. The dead seem to respond to him and surge all around with renewed vigor as they slaughter everything in their path.
-Elden Root-
Theodyn stands in the rain, the sound of the storm drowning out the world. He tilts his head up to the storm and closes his eyes, letting the rain run down his face. The past week had nearly driven him mad. No word on Viperish Night, on where he might strike next. And so he could not bring that traitorous Vestige to justice, to his Prince. Theodyn had been avoiding his friends as well. And that word...they had not seen each other for years, and even before they went down their paths, they had just been four people thrown together by fate. A faint glow has Theodyn snapping his eyes open as his hand drifts to Dawnbreaker. The faint shimmer gathers its strength and forms into a Breton in armor, his black hair untouched by the rain. Theodyn stares at the semi-transparent figure. He's seen him before, in Meridia's light. Darien, his Princes previous champion.
Darien gestures with his arms. "Theodyn! I told you to watch it in there. You did not even try to hold onto anything? Anything at all? Darien asks in a disappointed tone.
Theodyn frowns. "I was weak before. Why hold onto that?" Theodyn answers.
Darien drops his arms. "Meridia can be harsh, but this is a new level for her," Darien says.
"Do you blame her?" Theodyn growls. "The Vestige laid with her greatest enemy and now the world is covered in the undead!"
Darien scratches his head. "Um... I've made the mistake of sleeping with the wrong woman before. I mean it's never threatened to end the world before, that's a new one, but still." Darien shrugs. "Come on buddy, so Jeziasi slept with the wrong guy. We are all mortal, we all make mistakes."
Theodyn stares at Darien incredulously. "She is not even TRYING to fix her mistake! She's helping end Nirn!"
"And why is she doing that?" Darien says. "For love! I mean, I hope I don't have any kids out there, but I would like to think I would not put a knife in their back if they did something a little bad."
"This is not a little bad!" Theodyn snaps. "This is wrongs against all life! This is blasphemy of the highest order! This is..." Theodyn growls and turns. "Go away."
Darien sighs. "Not saying Jeziasi is in the right. But it's not beyond understanding. She's just a little lost. And she got that way trying to help her son, who's also lost." Darien quiets. "I know it can't end well for my friend. But I want to see her again. And I want to show you that you don't have to throw everything away to be our Prince's champion." Darien grins. "Gonna haunt you for now. Someone needs to knock some sense into your head after all." When Theodyn turns to glare at Darien, he just shrugs and gives a sad smile. "You are stuck with me until the last of what I am finally vanishes," Darien says as he glances at Dawnbreaker. What remains of him is still connected to that sword that Theodyn now holds. Though even now he feels that tenuous hold slipping. He will hold onto it for now, though. "Your friend's here. So I'll take a nap for now," Darien says as he vanishes.
Theodyn turns as Iveryni walks through the rain toward him. The rain seems to evaporate before touching her as if the heat of the Deadlands has traveled back with her. Something about how she came back...Theodyn pushes the thought aside.
"Theodyn," Iveryni says. "A scout has activated the call. Viperish Night and his pack are in Reaper's march with the Worm Cult."
Theodyn's hand drifts to Dawnbreaker and his eyes narrow as he pushes the thoughts of Darien and his words out of his mind. "I will fight Jeziasi," Theodyn says.
Iveryni turns and a portal opens. "That works with our plans. Softly-Speckled-Crab and the Wyrd will divide Viperish Night's pack so we can take them down." She glances back briefly, her eyes full of fire. "We'll burn down Reaper's March if we must. If that is what it takes to end this, then that is what I will do." She turns and enters the portal, Theodyn behind her.
-Reaper's March-
Dune falls silent as the last of the Khajiit's and Dominion forces fall. The innocent still remain, hidden in their houses in the vain hopes their protectors would stop the horror that is soon to come. Viperish Night raises his staff, ready to direct his undead into Dune to finish it, when giant fireballs start crashing down upon them, killing many of the undead and the Worm Cultists. "Dagon's champion," Tyranius says as his eyes scan the battlefield until they spot a lone figure on top of one of the buildings. "I'll take care of her." Tyranius laughs and runs into Dune in pursuit of her.
A shadowy figure moves toward Viperish Night and Zirasha springs at him. "Imperial Brat!" She says as she mists in front of Rufico and the two dance with their blades before Rufico flees and Zirasha streams after him in mist form, intent on his blood.
Once more Theodyn comes for Viperish Night and Jeziasi leaps at him as soon as she sees him, and the two tumble the ground, her jaws and claws snapping at him, and he with Dawnbreaker. He pushes her off and dodges her swing, Dawnbreaker slams down on the ground and light erupts from it blinding Jeziasi. Theodyn grabs her and in a flash of light teleports them into the plains surrounding Dune.
The ground starts to shake around Viperish Night and his undead and thick roots erupt all around him, caging him in away from his pack, away from the undead and the Worm Cultists. Viperish Night hisses softly. "Do not think me easy prey."
Softly-Speckled-Crab steps from the roots. "I would not disrespect you in that way." She says, a sad but determined look in her eyes.
The howls of wolves have Viperish Night looking all around him and out of the roots comes wolves and women, lead by Wyress Asteria. "Viperish Night," Wyress Asteria says in a cold voice. "You, who could have chosen a different path. You, who turned your back on life to embrace death." Her eyes radiate fury. "You will be ended here."
Viperish Night slowly smiles. "Life drowns me. Life tortures me. And so, I will end all of it. End the madness with my pack. You think you can stop me?"
Wyress Asteria lifts her spiked staff up. "Yes, we do. Here and now, we will end this." Wyress Asteria says.
Wyress Asteria springs at Viperish Night and her staff slices the air before her. Viperish Night's staff comes up and blocks the powerful blow, and then he springs backward as the Wyrd archer's arrows strike the ground all around him. Viperish Night hisses softly and spins as Softly-Speckled-Crab brings her staff down upon him, it hits his staff. Again Wyress Asteria springs forth and he spins around to fight her. "You think I do not know how to fight more than one foe at once?" Viperish Night says as he springs forth his staff slamming into Wyress Asteria's sending her stumbling back. He spins and does the same for Softly-Speckled-Crab. The three dance around each other, moving in to strike and the battle intensifies. Viperish Night dodges under Wyress Asteria's next swing and when Softly-Speckled-Crab comes for him he thrusts his staff out and a bolt of lightning erupts, sending her crashing hard to the ground. Viperish Night turns on Wyress Asteria. "Did you think I would play fair?" Viperish Night hisses. "You are not playing fair at all."
"Did you expect less?" Wyress Asteria says as she circles him. He has managed to dodge the Wyrd's arrows, managed to fight both her and Softly-Speckled-Crab to a standstill. His power radiated from him. If he was just a necromancer it would have been easier. But he was a trained warrior and had the unnatural Daedric power within him. "You started a war against all life, Viperish Night. Did you think you could slaughter everyone as easily as all the innocents you have murdered?"
Viperish Night's eyes flare. "No one is innocent!" he hisses as he puts his staff away and takes out his swords. "No one understands. No one sees the truth but I. The living are mad. I want them gone. I want there to be silence!"
"How can you be this mad?" Wyress Asteria says as she raises her staff. As her eyes search his, an answer slowly dawns. This unnatural mix of life and death, of Daedric and Mortal, was never meant to be. For one to try to contain all of that within them...would be a near impossible task. And if one was pushed toward the brink... "I see," Wyress Asteria softly says as she pushes from the ground with her staff. Viperish Night springs at her and the two engage in violent combat, their weapons clashing against each other, and striking each other's flesh. When they at last spring back, both are winded and bloody. Wyress Asteria gazes into Viperish Night's eyes then she suddenly howls and the wolfs surge forward at Viperish Night.
Viperish Night dives to the side and is soon buried in the Wyrd wolves that snap and claw at him. His swords fly and he springs up and is a whirlwind of flashing blades as the wolves come at him. One by one they fall to the ground, dead or injured. Wyress Asteria takes this moment to spring and her spiked staff slams into Viperish Night's arm, felling him to the ground. Before he can get up vines wrap around his arms and neck pinning him to the ground as Softly-Speckled-Crab finally staggers up and calls upon nature to bind him. Softly-Speckled-Crab raises one clawed hand, ready to tell the vines to end him, end this nightmare. "Keerasi-Zish, if there was another way..." Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
"There is no other way!" Viperish Night hisses as his eyes start to glow eerie white-blue. "You will all die!" His voice turns into a howl as his body ripples and he transforms into the terrible transformation once more, becoming as one with his undead, embracing all the dark icy power that it gives him, and the vines entrapping snap as he bolts up. "Come and end me, if you can!" Viperish Night hisses as he starts to laugh.
Jeziasi glances at Dune, then back at Theodyn, fury in her eyes. She surges at Theodyn and he charges at her as well. This time no words were exchanged between the two, just vicious intent to end the other. Jeziasi driven by the will to return to her son, and to destroy anything in her way of that goal, Theodyn with the righteous fury of Meridia. Jeziasi dodges as Theodyn swings Dawnbreaker at her and she ducks her head and slams into Theodyn, flinging him to the ground with a crash. He's up in a moment and his sword is a blur of speed and power as Jeziasi dodges out of the way of most of the strikes. Once more she hits him, once more he crashes to the ground. She prepares to leap, to end this. Her eyes meet his, so full of righteous fury and hate. Never did she want it to come to this, but it has.
Zirasha mists through Dune, following Rufico. His shadowy form ducks around buildings and she surges through a building's open window to leap through it to land on him. Her fangs rip through the Brotherhood armor and sink into his throat as she ravages it and drinks her fill of his blood. "Stupid brat, you made that too easy." Zirasha hisses as she lets go of him. As he hits the ground the hood falls off, revealing the face of a Breton woman. Zirasha reels back in shock and spins. She's too far from the others. "Damn it, damn it, damn it." Zirasha hisses as she mists and streams back. Who would he go after? She speeds up.
Just as Jeziasi is ready to leap on Theodyn a shadow comes from the darkness at incredible speed and she feels a blade sink deep into her side. Jeziasi howls and turns, slamming into Rufico and sending him crashing to the ground. She staggers back and Theodyn slams Dawnbreaker into the ground and a shock-wave of blinding light and fire slams into Jeziasi sending her flying to crash with a bone jarring impact against a group of rocks. Jeziasi's golden eyes focus on Theodyn and Rufico before the pain overwhelms her and the world goes black.
Tyranius leaps onto the building roof to find Iveryni waiting for him. "Predictable," Iveryni says softly and a wall of flames encases the edges of the roof, making any escape impossible. "How did you get this far, when you are this easily divided?" Iveryni says as her staff glows with a dark crimson light.
Tyranius's grip on his scythe tightens. "Damn it, usually not this stupid," he says. He concentrated so much on the threat, and his desire to face her again, he let it blind him. "Well, guess I got to kill you. Make up for this." His scythe swings and the icy blades form around him.
Blood. So much blood all around her. Zirasha flies through the air in her mist form, the scent of blood heavy. There is a trace of Viperish Night's, but Jeziasi's is heavier on the air. Zirasha speeds up and heads toward the plains, following the scent of blood. She reappears in front of Theodyn and Rufico and grabs Jeziasi, who has returned to her mer state and speeds away faster than they can react. They will come for them though. Zirasha finds an abandoned tomb and heads inside, leaning Jeziasi against the wall. "Wake up!" Zirasha snarls. "They will follow, you have to wake up Jeziasi. Wake up or I will bite you!"
The world returns in flashes and Jeziasi's eyes flicker open as she finds herself in a small tomb, Zirasha by her side. "Zirasha..." Jeziasi says softly as she tries to rise and fails, resting back against the rocks.
"Tell me your healing fast," Zirasha says. "Come on, Jeziasi. Heal and get up. We have to fight both of them. We have to kill bastards for doing this." Zirasha's eyes flare as she snarls. "We have to get back to Viperish Night, you know this!"
Jeziasi's eyes flare and she once more tries to rise, crashing down again. "The blade went too deep," Jeziasi says. "And my ribs are broken. They are healing. All of its healing. Just not fast enough." Jeziasi looks up at Zirasha. "I need to get to him. But I cannot move, cannot transform yet." Zirasha rises, a feral look in her eyes as she turns toward the entrance. Jeziasi reaches up and grasps her hand. "You cannot fight them both," Jeziasi says. "Go help Viperish Night and leave me here."
"No!" Zirasha snaps. "Do you know what Viperish Night will DO if he knows I left you to them?" she says as she looks down at Jeziasi.
Her eyes hold something in them, it takes Jeziasi a moment to realize what it is. That is not the only reason she will not leave her. "Zirasha..." Jeziasi says.
Zirasha shakes Jeziasi's hand from her arm and steps toward the entrance. "Never once have I had anyone I'd fight for, not even...myself," Zirasha whispers and then hisses angrily. "Look what you've done, Jez. You made me...care." Zirasha pauses. "I do not want to lose my pack."
Jeziasi struggles to rise, struggles to ignore the pain and grievous injuries. "I will not see another I care for die!" Jeziasi growls.
"You cannot stop me!" Zirasha says. "If I could..." Zirasha trails off, falling silent.
Jeziasi knows what Zirasha speaks of. She had told Jeziasi of what Swims-In-Silence had told her, what power an original had. A chill runs down Jeziasi's back as she remembers Viperish Night's violent transformation. How he seemed so different after, icy cold that took time to thaw. She does not want that again, not for her son, not for Zirasha. But it may be the only way to save both of them, and help Viperish Night. "Why can't you?" Jeziasi says softly.
Zirasha turns to her, reads the conflict in her eyes. "I...want to. But I need more blood. I have not taken enough, not for this. I can feel it." Jeziasi reaches for her again and again Zirasha hisses at her. "I told you, do not try to stop me!"
"...I'm not," Jeziasi says. "Take mine."
A wild look crosses Zirasha's eyes. "You cannot mean that!" Zirasha snaps. "You've lost so much blood already."
"Do it, Zirasha," Jeziasi says. "We fight for our pack. They went after me, and that means they are going after those they feel are the biggest threat. He's in danger. If you can stop Theodyn and Rufico so we can save my son, take what you need of me. I'll recover."
Zirasha kneels by Jeziasi and leans in close to her. "I'll stop before I take enough to kill you," Zirasha whispers. "I just need a little more. And your blood is so powerful." Her eyes gleam. "I can feel the monster under my skin, wanting out. The battle, all of my pack in danger, it feeds that." Zirasha leans in and her fangs lightly grace Jeziasi's neck and Jeziasi leans her head back as Zirasha strikes, biting into Jeziasi's neck and feeding on her blood. Jeziasi's eyes flicker closed as Zirasha feeds, the warm wild werewolf blood coursing through her, and soon it is enough. Zirasha stands. "Jeziasi," she whispers. Jeziasi slowly opens her eyes to look up at her and Zirasha smiles, her bloody fangs glimmering as she turns. Rufico and Theodyn approach, she can feel them. They think them easy prey. Zirasha will show them how wrong they are, and how wrong it was to hurt Jeziasi. Zirasha tilts her head back and closes her eyes and let's go, embracing the monster inside. She wants the world to see her truth, her gloriously imperfect truth.
The transformation is violent and Zirasha screams as her body is torn asunder. Jagged wings erupt from her back, long graceful horns from her head. Her skin darkness into near ebony, her eyes glowing crimson red. Talons grace her feet, her claws are so much longer, so much more wicked. Her ragged hair turns into a spiked mane the color of a moonless night and as the transformation finishes Zirasha laughs and with a surge of speed she is outside, landing in the path of Theodyn and Rufico who start back in shock. "Are I not so gloriously imperfect?" Zirasha hisses.
Theodyn snarls at her, "A bigger affront against life than before. You show your true colors, vampire. Molag Bal made you." Dawnbreaker glows in his hands as he stalks toward her. Rufico says not a word, just raises The Blade of Woe as he too stalks toward her.
Zirasha laughs again. "An affront? I like that," she says as her eyes start to glow and she moves toward the two heroes so fast it's near-instantaneous as she appears before the two. Rufico leaps back and Theodyn thrusts Dawnbreaker at her, but its shimmering light seems to melt into the darkness that is now Zirasha. Zirasha slams her arm at the sword and the resulting shock-wave tosses Theodyn to the winds and he crashes down some distance away. She then turns on Rufico who leaps at her with the blade. Zirasha hisses with delight and the two once more start into their deadly dance, but this time Zirasha is so much faster, so much stronger and soon she has the upper hand. Her clawed hand shoots out and snatches Rufico up by the neck and she holds him aloft out of strike range. Zirasha's grip tightens. "I suppose I can drink your blood after I break your neck, brat," Zirasha hisses. Theodyn finally staggers up and runs at the two, leaping on Zirasha's back, plunging Dawnbreaker deep into her shoulder. Zirasha screams and drops Rufico, and in one graceful motion, she surges up and flies straight into the air. "You want to play golden boy?" Zirasha hisses. "This is what you get for what you did to Jeziasi!" Zirasha twists and bucks Theodyn from her, and he falls to the ground with an earth-shattering crack and lies unmoving on the ground as Zirasha lands. Rufico is by Theodyn's side in a moment and he raises his head to stare at Zirasha, his eyes filled with fury and deadly promise as he opens a portal and takes Theodyn through, fleeing from the battle.
Tyranius's ice blades slam into Iveryni's fire-bolts with small shock-waves of Daedric and magic power. The flames shimmer on his armor and Iveryni's eyes flare with the glow. "Enough damn magic, dark elf." Tyranius finally says. "Show me what else you can do."
"Trying to bait me?" Iveryni says. "So very common." Iveryni places her staff on her back and withdraws her axes. "You think you have me at a disadvantage. I'll show you how wrong you are."
Tyranius laughs as his ice blades vanish, and he grips his scythe with both hands. "This is going to be fun. Come at me, dark elf."
Iveryni moves toward Tyranius like liquid grace and fire and her twin axes are blurs of speed and power. Tyranius's scythe clashes with them as the two dance in their deadly fight, surrounded by Iveryni's fiery inferno. Iveryni's axes slice deep grooves in Tyranius's armor and Tyranius's practiced swings cut into Iveryni's armor in turn, and in flesh from shallow cuts. The two break apart and start to circle each other, Iveryni's eyes on Tyranius, her hair drifting in the breeze caused by the rippling flames. "You like it now," Tyranius says. At Iveryni's stare, he laughs. "Little dark elf likes to fight. Bet you want my blood on your axes."
"I'll settle for nothing less than you dead at my feet," Iveryni says.
"Then let's go, dark elf," Tyranius says with a laugh, and Iveryni leaps at him her axes flying down and Tyranius's scythe comes up Daedric metal clashing against each other. Tyranius kicks her and Iveryni moves to the side, and then as Tyranius's scythe swings toward her, she dives to the side, and his scythe slams down, ringing against the stones. Iveryni spins and her axes bury themselves in Tyranius's armor and she quickly pulls them out as he slams into her sending her reeling toward the flames. Iveryni launches back at him once more and their blades clash across the roof, at times coming dangerously close to the flames. As Tyranius leaps back from Iveryni, he glances at the barrier of fire. He is enjoying himself, but he needs to return to pup. If these welps are smart they will focus most of their firepower on Viperish Night, he's the main threat. Iveryni notices his distraction and goes in for the kill, her axes start to glow with firey power as she aims them toward his midsection. Under his helm, Tyranius smirks. He knew she would do that. He lets her come in close than in a swift movement his scythe swings and slams into her hard, throwing her into the flames and off the building. A dull thud echos up and the flames at last die. "Wish I could finish this, but gotta get back to the pup," Tyranius calls down before he leaps off the building.
Arrows fly only to be shredded by the Daedric energy that pulses from Viperish Night's bone colossus form. Viperish Night raises his hand and a blast of icy energy slams into the roots and the Wyrd archers, sending them flying to crash onto the ground. Some stumble up, but others lie unmoving on the ground. Viperish Night grins and they rise and turn on their sisters with undead shrieks. The remaining Wyress wolfs come for him next, their fangs snapping all around him, but a burst of energy sends them flying to shatter with bone-shattering force upon the ground all around him. Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes widen in horror before she narrows them and slams her staff upon the ground and roots and vines surge up to wrap themselves around Viperish Night's limbs. Softly-Speckled-Crab grits her fangs as the unholy energy shreds the plants, the pain that they now suffer, she feels as well. But she knows she cannot call them back, they must stop Viperish Night no matter the cost. Viperish Night turns on Softly-Speckled-Crab but before he can attack Wyress Asteria runs at Viperish Night from the back and slams her staff into the back of his legs sending him staggering down. "Finish this," Wyress Asteria yells and Softly-Speckled-Crab concentrates all the power she has and more roots emerge from the ground their points deadly sharp. "Mercy will be granted to you," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "Forgive us, if you can."
The pulses of energy sharpen and start to shred the vines and everything around them as Viperish Night's eyes glow bright with necromantic energy and the earth starts to shake as the dead struggle through the ground, through the vines and roots to attack the Wyrd Sisters. Viperish Night slams his hand on the ground and necromantic energy streaks forward and starts to corrupt the roots all around him. "No mercy," Viperish Night hisses, his voice bone grating.
"Wyress now!" Wyress Asteria screams. "Everything you have, everything we have left, bind him so this can be finished."
The remaining Wyress stagger to their feet and start to chant, the nature energy shimmering in the air as they concentrate all their power. Vines and roots shoot from the ground, wrapping around Viperish Night even as his energy shreds them, even as he fights against them.
Tyranius races through Dune. A quake in the earth pauses him briefly and he turns toward it and picks up the pace, running into the plains where a great mass of roots and vines seethe in the near distance. A shout pauses him again as Zirasha flies toward him from the west and lands in front of him. Tyranius looks up at Zirasha, who now towers above him by a few inches. In her arms is Jeziasi, who's alive but unconscious. "Damn it," Tyranius says. "We let the bastards divide us."
Zirasha thrusts Jeziasi at Tyranius. "I'll help Viperish Night. Rufico and Theodyn..." A smile crosses Zirasha's monstrous face as she continues. "The Imperial brat fled with golden boy after I dropped him from the sky."
Tyranius takes Jeziasi from Zirasha. "I took out the dark elf. She's probably still alive, but she may regret that later." Tyranius glances at Jeziasi and then back up at Zirasha. "Did you bite wolfy?"
"...She let me," Zirasha hisses and turns. "Wait here, brute. Someone's got to watch her. Viper will have a fit if something happens to her."
"Normally I'd fight you for it but..." Tyranius laughs. "Looking good, girl. Shred the bastards for me."
Zirasha spins and takes to the air. "I'll make them choke in their blood." She laughs and flies toward the mass of green, slicing through it with utter ease.
Zirasha bursts through the greenery and takes it in a moment. Viperish Night in his monstrous form. The Wyrd Sisters using their magic to bind him faster than the pulses of Daedric energy can break the vines and roots. Softly-Speckled-Crab with her staff in hand, preparing to impel Viperish Night with the razor-sharp ends of roots. Zirasha hisses and her eyes start to glow red. Black and crimson bats shimmer into existence as she shrieks and dives at the Wyrd Sisters with the bats. The screeches of the bats, the screams of the Wyrd Sisters fill the air and soon blood does as well as Zirasha tears through them, savaging them with her claws and fangs, showing utterly no mercy to the ones who sought to end Viperish Night.
Softly-Speckled-Crab grips her staff tighter and her magic erupts, the jagged roots shoot forward toward Viperish Night, but without the Wyrd Sister's magic, he rips through the greenery that binds them and howls, Daedric energy slamming forth and annihilating the roots. The shock-wave slams into Softly-Speckled-Crab who tumbles across the ground to land by the large roots. Viperish Night throws his head back and howls, a wave of Daedric energy bursts from him in all directions. Softly-Speckled-Crab scrambles back and a shimmering of a portal opens behind her as a battered and bloody Iveryni leaps out to drag Softly-Speckled-Crab through the portal. Iveryni looks to the Wyrd Sisters, but it is too late to save them so she slams the portal shut before the Daedric wave can destroy them as well.
The Daedric energy slams into the roots and vines utterly annihilating them and bursting across the plains and Dune. An eerie silence falls and Viperish Night shudders as he drops to his knees as he transforms back, shedding the monstrous form. Zirasha lands near him and stumbles, she leans her head back as her monster retreats deep within her. With a small laugh, she falls on the ground and stares up at the night sky. Tyranius walks to his pack, and Viperish Night's head snaps up to look at his Egg-mother, then at Tyranius.
"She's fine," Tyranius says, though the look Viperish Night gives him is icy cold. "We'll kill the bastards next time. Gotta be smarter than this."
A soft groan has everyone's head turning. All the Wyrd Sisters lie dead, save for one. Wyress Asteria lies on the ground near her fallen sisters, badly injured. Viperish Night staggers up and stalks to her, looking down at the Wyrd Sister. Memories are at the edges of his mind, he knows she was once his friend, in a different life. But where there would be some sort of emotion, however buried, all there is ice. Viperish Night kneels beside her and Wyress Asteria's eyes slowly open to stare up at him. Sadness fills them as she feels the void in which her sister's life force once filled. "Kill me then," Wyress Asteria says. "Send me to be with my sisters."
Viperish Night's claws lightly grace her throat. "What ones do you want to follow?" Viperish Night says in a icy cold voice. "Zirasha killed some of your sisters, but also did my undead kill some," he laughs as his claws continue to trail on her throat. "That means some of your sisters are with my Egg-Father. Do you want to go with them, or do you want Zirasha to rip your throat out so you can take the easy way out?"
Wyress Asteria's eyes fill with horror. "You are not the one I knew, the one I showed the way of the forest to," Wyress Asteria whispers and she closes her eyes. "Send me to Coldharbour. I led them into this, I will not leave those who need me most."
Viperish Night rises and the dead Wyrd Sisters rise and move toward Wyress Asteria. Her eyes bolt open in horror. Viperish Night watches as they tear her to pieces and when she is at last dead he throws his head back and laughs.
Zirasha staggers up and backs away from the horrific scene, stopping only when she's at Tyranius's side, who's just watching the carnage. "Viperish Night..." Zirasha whispers.
"Damn it..." Tyranius quietly says. Zirasha glances at him and he shakes his head. He felt Jeziasi stir as Viperish Night moved toward Wyress Asteria. He knew she had managed to open her eyes, to see just what her son had done.
Jeziasi shudders in Tyranius's arms, her eyes close again. She had seen all of her pack do such horrific things, she had helped them. Atrocities, mass murders, no mercy, no surrender. But this... this was something else altogether. She softly whispers her son's name, but her eyes stay closed. She fears too much to open them, fears she will see only icy dark in those eyes, and nothing of the faint light she sought.
"Damn it, pup," Tyranius swears in a low tone, then louder. "Pup let's get out of here."
Viperish Night's eyes move to Tyranius. "Let the dead finish with Dune," Viperish Night hisses, and with that they surge into Dune, finishing all those who remain. Long moments pass and then Viperish Night turns and opens a portal, crossing the threshold to return home. Zirasha follows, followed by Tyranius and Jeziasi.
-Skyrim Tomb-
Viperish Night settles in his throne, resting his head back and closing his eyes breathing hard. It took so much out of him still...but less so than the first time he assumed that form.
Tyranius pauses as he walks closer to Viperish Night with Jeziasi. "Should I put wolfy in her room?" Tyranius asks.
Viperish Night opens his eyes. "Put my pet in her normal spot. I lost her for a while. I wish to keep her close for now."
"Sure pup," Tyranius says as he moves to the throne and lies Jeziasi at Viperish Night's feet. Tyranius rises and looks down at Jeziasi, studying her. He knows she's awake, but her eyes are closed still. Tyranius moves to the wall and leans against it, arms crossed.
Zirasha looks at Viperish Night, then her eyes move to Jeziasi and then to Tyranius before she sits at the table. Truthfully she's not sure she could have stood much longer. The transformation drained all the blood she had devoured and then some. She wants to return to their room, to rest. But... as her eyes move back to Viperish Night she finds she cannot leave Jeziasi here alone right now, and so she stays.
The temperature suddenly seems to plummet as a portal opens and Swims-In-Silence steps out. Zirasha hisses softly as Swims-In-Silence walks across the throne room. He pauses by Zirasha, his icy gaze scanning her and he slowly smiles. "Did you like it?" He hisses. Zirasha raises her eyes to his and he sees the truth in them and with a laugh he moves to Viperish Night and Jeziasi. His eyes move to Jeziasi first then to Viperish Night. "Your pet is missing her collar again," he remarks.
Viperish Night regards his Egg-father with an icy glare. "Barbed metal is hardly suitable when she's not in wolf form," Viperish Night hisses.
Swims-In-Silence's claws move to his side and he takes a chain from his belt with a collar attached. He tosses it to Viperish Night who snatches it from the air. Viperish Night's claws tighten as he regards it and starts to hiss in warning. "She is loyal," Swims-In-Silence says in response. "But it is best to be sure. Your actions today seem to have shaken her." Swims-In-Silence smiles. "She is awake if you were not aware of that."
Viperish Night seems to startle a bit. He had not known she was awake, that she had been since... "Sit up, pet." Viperish Night suddenly says.
Jeziasi slowly opens her eyes and sits up, wincing slightly. The pain still spiked through her but she felt her body healing. Perhaps she could have walked herself but it had seemed easier to keep still and silent and let Tyranius carry her home. What Viperish Night had said to Wyress Asteria, the way he killed her. Jeziasi remembers talking to the Wyrd Sister when all this had just started. It takes all she is not to show any emotion.
Swims-In-Silence moves closer and kneels by Jeziasi, Viperish Night's eyes following him the whole time. "Did our son disturb you, my mate?" Swims-In-Silence asks her.
How to answer that. How? Jeziasi's fingers curl and she swallows before quietly speaking, keeping her eyes on the floor. "No mercy. No survivors. That is what my son wants. It does not matter how he does it. I will follow him, always."
Swims-In-Silence laughs. "I still hear the pain in your voice," he says with a soft hiss, and then his claws move to her neck, and his eyes move to Viperish Night. "Your vampire bit her."
Zirasha hisses from the table. "To protect Viperish Night. To save him when she could not, she let me so I could."
Swims-In-Silence's claws move to Jeziasi's face and she turns her eyes on him and growls softly, her eyes filled with utter murderous rage. "Are you going to try and savage me?" Swims-In-Silence asks her.
"No, she is not," Viperish Night says. "Not yet. Jeziasi growls again but remains still and Swims-In-Silence rises and turns his full attention to Viperish Night, and the collar he has given him. Viperish Night's claws move across the chain and collar, Daedric metal, Daedric symbols.
"No need to decide now, pup," Tyranius says from his spot on the wall. "Long damn night."
"Go," Viperish Night hisses at Swims-In-Silence.
Swims-In-Silence stares at Viperish Night for long moments before he speaks again. "You let him speak for you?"
Viperish Night's eyes narrow. "He is your champion," Viperish Night says. "And one of my pack," Viperish says and follows with a low angry growl. "I will not put something you gave me on my pet. She is mine."
"As you wish," Swims-In-Silence says and his eyes move back to Jeziasi. "In such pain, I can see it in your eyes, my mate," he says as he looks back to Viperish Night. "Perhaps I could take her for a walk? You could just use the old collar. I'm sure she would not mind for a few minutes."
Zirasha suddenly bolts up from the table. "Leave Jez alone," Zirasha hisses. "Just get out of here. You heard Viperish Night."
Swims-In-Silence turns on Zirasha and stalks toward her. "You dare? You think yourself that powerful now? Do not forget who made you." Swims-In-Silence says with an angry hiss.
"I never could," Zirasha says and she suddenly lunges at Swims-In-Silence, baring her fangs. Swims-In-Silence just stands there as his eyes start to glow. Zirasha freezes mid lunge and staggers back before she starts screaming.
"My blood runs through your veins," Swims-In-Silence hisses. "You think me too weak to control you in this form? Embrace the agony and see how wrong you are!" Swims-In-Silence's eyes narrow. "Unless you wish to kneel, then perhaps I'll stop the pain before it drives you mad."
Jeziasi's head snaps up, her fingers scratch on the stone. She remembers Zirasha's instance on testing him. It's the only thing that keeps her still. Tyranius moves from the wall toward Zirasha and Swims-In-Silence. "Enough perhaps Prince?" Tyranius asks. "Long night. Our tempers are not at their best."
Swims-In-Silence turns his eyes on Tyranius. "You question me? My champion?" he snaps.
"No Prince," Tyranius says. "Just taking care of my pack. You know how it is."
Swims-In-Silence hisses and his hand slice through the air and Tyranius's armor starts to glow. "Kneel," Swims-In-Silence demands. As Tyranius tries to resist his armor seems to contract on him until he's forced down on his knees.
Jeziasi starts to rise, growling in anger but Viperish Night puts his claws on her shoulder. "Down pet," Viperish Night orders.
Jeziasi sits back down and turns to look at him, to search those eyes for something other than the icy dark. "Viperish Night, please." Jeziasi whispers.
Viperish Night gazes at her then turns his eyes to Swims-In-Silence. "Enough. They are mine and I will punish them if they step out of line." Swims-In-Silence lowers his hand, and the glow fades from his eyes. "Leave us now," Viperish Night commands. Swims-In-Silence just smiles and turns as the portal opens, enveloping him.
Zirasha stumbles up and starts to say something but stops as she gazes into Viperish Night's eyes. "...Sorry," Zirasha whispers. "I am tired and hungry." Zirasha turns to leave and pauses. "Jez? Bed?" she says.
Tyranius gets up from the floor and moves to the throne, his eyes fall on the collar. "She's still healing, pup. I'll take her to bed." Tyranius moves his eyes to Jeziasi. He knows she can walk but...his eyes move to Viperish Night.
"Very well," Viperish Night hisses. "I need her healed for Summerset."
Tyranius gathers Jeziasi in his arms and follows Zirasha out of the throne room.
When they get to Jeziasi's room Tyranius puts her down and leans against the wall. Zirasha collapses moments later, breathing hard. "You let the Brute carry you," Zirasha says with a semi delirious giggle.
"Damn it, girl, come here." Tyranius snaps at Zirasha.
"Why?" Zirasha says rolling on her back.
Tyranius sighs and his armor vanishes. "You need more blood. Take some of mine before I change my damn mind."
Jeziasi slowly sits up. "She won't turn you?"
Tyranius shrugs. Don't think so." he glares at Zirasha. "Better not girl."
Zirasha rises and shakily walks to Tyranius. "I have control. Even of who I infect. Unless I just want to kill them. Then I don't bother with that." Zirasha grabs Tyranius's arm. "Not biting your neck, brute," she complains before sinking her fangs into his wrist, drinking just enough to last the night before she stops and sits on the floor. "If I have enough blood, if I am transformed, maybe I can fight his control," Zirasha says softly. "I won't know until I try."
"Might be able to get around it too," Tyranius says. "Need to think about it. Armor is bound to me, and it belongs to him. I'll figure something out." Tyranius regards Jeziasi. "We tested him, Jeziasi. He'll test you soon."
Jeziasi swallows. "I know. I have to...obey him when he does. No matter what the orders me to do." Jeziasi lies down on her back, her eyes staring up at the stone ceiling. "Viperish Night... has he ever..." she trails off, unable to continue, unable to ask.
"No, wolfy," Tyranius says. "He kills without mercy. Enjoys it. But never killed with such..." Tyranius trails off and frowns.
"...Such cruelty," Zirasha whispers.
"He's the leader," Tyranius says. "Our loyalty is not in question. All of us are gonna follow him to the ends of Nirn, or Oblivion." Tyranius shrugs.
"I will never leave this pack," Zirasha says. "Never. There is no other place for me in this world."
"And I will never leave my pack," Jeziasi says. "I will never abandon my son, no matter what he becomes." Jeziasi's eyes close and a single tear runs down her cheek.
Tyranius moves to the door. "I'll check on the pup before I sleep. He'll thaw, wolfy. He did last time, as much as he ever does."
Tyranius walks to Viperish Night's room and leans against the wall, waiting for him.
Viperish Night walks down the hall to his room. He threw the accused thing his Egg-Father gave him to the far corners of the room. Why had he not done it sooner? Viperish Night pauses, eyes briefly closing. So very tired. So very drained. So very cold. His Egg-Mother had been badly hurt, he should care about that, should he not? Did he? The world swims and Viperish Night stumbles and leans against the wall, shaking. It takes long moments before he stops and continues to his room, only to find Tyranius waiting for him. Viperish Night stops and stares at Tyranius.
Tyranius stares right back. "You alright pup?" Tyranius says.
Viperish Night just hisses and walks past him into his room. "Leave me." Viperish Night says.
"Yeah, pup. I'll do that." Tyranius shrugs and heads to his room. he pauses to look back, Viperish Night had vanished into his room. Tyranius continues to his room and rests on the bed inside, thinking. When Mannimarco had demanded he help Viperish Night as payment for all he had given Tyranius in the Imperial City, Tyranius had thought it another job, like the mercenary work he had gotten into. Mannimarco did say it would be more like a war than that. Tyranius had just laughed at him. But he was right. This was a war. And the only way it would end was in death. "Not stupid," Tyranius says to himself. The odds of them getting killed over this... And yet Tyranius never once thought of leaving. All the things he did during the Plane-Meld, all the things he did under Viperish Night's command... would eventually bite him in the ass. Way of the world. He had nothing to live for, but brutal war and combat that had driven him for so long. Was fitting it would end that way for him when it did.
