-Elden Root-
Rufico lies Iveryni in her room on her bed and then walks out and softly shuts the door. He leans against the wall, his eyes dark as his hands idly play with one of his daggers. For a brief moment of time, it had been black and white. And then color intruded. The things he saw in the flames.
Theodyn sits in a chair near Rufico, placing his helm on the ground and Softly-Speckled-Crab walks to Iveryni's door and leans her head against it lightly trembling. All is so very quiet until a soft pop breaks it and a familiar tabby is suddenly on a nearby table.
"I warned you!" Sheogorath yowls. "Never say Uncle Sheo did not warn you she'd erupt like the Red Mountain! Oh, wait, that has not happened yet."
The dagger stills in Rufico's hands. "...So you did," Rufico says. "I should have taken you seriously."
"Yes, you should have! But no you should not! I would not be the Prince of Madness had you!" Sheogorath walks in circles before sitting down and viciously licking his paw.
"Iveryni was always the most controlled out of all of us," Theodyn says.
"She took the dark path, Theo," Rufico says softly. "Every bit as damaging as the light."
"One of you should have trained with me!" Sheogorath declares. "Crazy is much better than light or destruction! And we have cheese! The crazy side has cheese! ENOUGH SAID."
"Sheogorath," Rufico says and turns his intense gaze on the tabby.
"Why are you looking at me that way? DO NOT LIKE IT! I'll cut your eyes out with a spoon!" Sheogorath threatens, fur raised.
Rufico ignores the threat and continues his question. "What do you know of Mehrunes Dagon's intentions?"
Theodyn looks up at Rufico and Softly-Speckled-Crab turns around to regard him as well. Sheogorath hisses, "Only to stay away from him and his champion! You should do that too, but you're all too sane. Most of you!" Sheogorath leaps from the table and starts to stalk off only pausing to look back at Theodyn.
Theodyn glances at Rufico. "Go," Rufico says quietly. Theodyn nods and follows Sheogorath down the hallway.
When the two are alone Softly-Speckled-Crab regards Rufico carefully. "You saw something in the flames," Softly-Speckled-Crab states.
Rufico frowns as the images flash through his mind once more. "Enough to cost us an end to this war tonight," Rufico says as he turns away from Softly-Speckled-Crab. "I have to live with that choice and hope it was the right one."
"Rufico, you saved Iveryni. Not just her physical form as it is, but her soul." Softly-Speckled-Crab responds. "Just as you saved Theodyn. You, who are an assassin, saved our friend's souls."
A faint smile crosses Rufico's lips as he turns his head to look at Softly-Speckled-Crab. "Stranger things," Rufico says and then the smile falls. "Iveryni may still not want to come back from this. She killed tonight, and not those she meant to."
"There is always a choice. Even for those utterly lost," Softly-Speckled-Crab insists. "He let us go, Rufico."
Rufico had asked that of Viperish Night, a desperate plea he never thought Viperish Night would answer. But for reasons Rufico could not begin to fathom, the necromancer had let them go, even ordering Swims-In-Silence to drop whatever magic he used to bind the portals. "Softly-Speckled-Crab. Viperish Night is not just going to stop this war." Rufico turns his head away. "I saw into his eyes. He's nearly utterly mad."
"He is lost, Rufico," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "Drowned by his Egg-father, by his Mentor, by the darker side of Nirn and its people. But he still fights. Part of him does not want this."
"Point still stands," Rufico says. "Softly-Speckled-Crab... I saw deeper than just the madness. He knows he'll fail."
Softly-Speckled-Crab sinks to the floor. "The river will fully consume him then. Any bit of him that still fights will be lost...destroyed." Softly-Speckled-Crab says sadly.
"He's going to be destroyed either way. Him and his pack," Rufico says. "It would have been tonight had I not decided Iveryni's soul was more important." Rufico shakes his head and walks off.

Theodyn walks behind Sheogorath until Sheogorath stops at a window and leaps through it. Theodyn pauses as Sheogorath walks out onto the thick branch and finally follows him out in the sunlight, sitting on the branch with his legs dangling as he looks down on the people below him.
"Mortals!" Sheogorath says with a purr laying on the branch and watching as well. His eyes move to Theodyn. "I tried to warn you!"
"About Iveryni, I know," Theodyn says.
Sheogorath growls. "Idiot! ...I tried to warn you about HER."
Theodyn's blood runs cold as his thoughts turn towards the light. Towards Prince Meridia, how she made him how she wanted him...how her hatred wanted him. And then further back, how Sheogorath gave him the cheese, wanted him to visit his realm. "That had been a warning?" Theodyn says. "You have a strange confluded way of doing that." Theodyn falls silent, looking up at the leafy branches above him. "Could you have purified me? Given me what I needed to fight this war?" Sheogorath just hisses at that. "As Rufico would say that is a no," Theodyn says.
"It should not be!" Sheogorath hisses. "Madness plays a roll in all of this! It caused this!"
That gives Theodyn pause and as he thinks on Softly-Speckled-Crab's words, and Rufico's. "Madness is present," Theodyn muses, "But it is pain that causes all of this, pain and despair." Sheogorath tilts his head at Theodyn's words, and Theodyn continues. "Jeziasi was in pain and despair after Summerset, she told us as much. Molag Bal took advantage of that. Viperish Night is in pain as well...for all that Mannimarco and Swims-In-Silence did to him." A chill runs through Theodyn's body as he remembers the eyes in the dark. "Still doing to him," Theodyn corrects himself.
"And Nirn! Do not forget that!" Sheogorath says as he rises and paces on the branch. "It's why I love Nirn! Mortals! Everything seems designed to drive them mad! Into madness! Into MY sphere. I love it love it love it!"
Theodyn regards Sheogorath. He will never understand this being. Madness brought pain, and he delighted in it all. But still, Sheogorath had tried to warn them. About Meridia, about Iveryni. Theodyn starts to smile. "Pain and despair are not all Viperish Night and his pack feel. Love. They also feel love."
"Love!" Sheogorath spits. "Love makes mortals to the most absurd and crazy things! Things they should never think of doing!"
This brings thought of Jeziasi. A hero, one who had made mistakes, done what would be considered evil things by many, but she would have never tried to destroy Nirn if not for love. "Softly-Speckled-Crab thinks love can stop this. Rufico thinks it is too late."
"And what do you think?" Sheogorath asks.
"Love saved me," Theodyn says. "Love for mortals causes you to help us, in your confusing maddening way, but..." Theodyn falls silent, ignoring Sheogorath's spit of outrage. though strangely enough, the Daedric Prince does not dispute Theodyn's words. "I just do not know," Theodyn admits. "I fight to stay in Rufico's shadows and not be drowned by the light. At times thinking of anything more..." Theodyn trails off, a small shudder passing through him. "I broke, and I did not even know it. I don't want to stay broken, to stay Meridia's tool of hatred and vengeance."
"She's so boring!" Sheogorath spits. "No one would want that! Why I gave you a taste of crazy! I thought she managed to spit it out of you, but here we are!" Sheogorath scratches at the branch and turns to look at Theodyn. "Mortals break in the most fascinating ways! The way they put themselves back together, if they even can...it is why I love to see mortals fall to madness. Do they stay with me forever, or what crazy ways do they piece themselves back together?"
The light is what Theodyn thinks of. How it promised his salvation, and Nirn's, but somehow all it did was shatter him. Meridia put him back together in the way she wanted him, but it was flawed, doomed to shatter once more. Only Rufico saved him. And then he thinks of Iveryni, how she hid her pain, hid the fact she was on the verge of erupting and breaking into so many pieces. Viperish Night had been whole once too, despite the way he was created. It took breaking to turn him into the monster that threatened all of Nirn. "Softly-Speckled-Crab is right. Love matters more than I thought once, after what Meridia did to me." Theodyn finally utters.
"Love or despair? What will win? What will we bet the cheese on?" Sheogorath answers. "Or...perhaps it will be Uncle Sheo's favorite, madness that will win!?"
Theodyn pauses, a thoughtful look on his face. "I should return. Iveryni will need her friends when she wakes. I... know the pain she will feel, the pain Rufico must feel too." Theodyn stands, hand holding onto the branch above his head a brief look of despair crossing his face. "I am responsible for this war lasting longer as well. Because I was blinded by the light and Meridia's hatred for Jeziasi. I might have been able to..." Theodyn trails off. The thought of killing either of them once filled him with righteousness. But now it just made him sick. They had to be stopped. This war had to be ended. But to know your enemy this well...to understand their pain. It was not a simple matter of light and darkness any longer now that his eyes were open.
Sheogorath arches his back. "Do not dare get too sane on me! You are one of my favorite mortals." Sheogorath declares.
A faint smile crosses Theodyn's face and he looks down at Sheogorath. A Daedric Prince, but in such a simple form. "Why are you a cat?" Theodyn asks.
Sheogorath hisses low and deep. "I wanted that book! A simple journal. I asked this high and mighty Breton Psijic to bring it to me. I should have known better to ask him! He even HAD a high and mighty name Stratos Firn, can you imagine? Why did he give himself such a uppity name?" Sheogorath ruffles his fur before he continues. "Now where was I? RIGHT! He refused so, well the story is far too long to get in here, but I drove him mad! He deserved it!" Sheogorath mutters something under his breath.
Theodyn tilts his head a bit, trying not to laugh as he catches Sheogorath's mummers. "Someone cursed you for it," Theodyn says.
Sheogorath hisses, "If you tell ANYONE about that!"
"Right, you'll eat my eyeballs," Theodyn says.
"What? NO! I would give them to an orphan! They need eyeballs RIGHT?" Sheogorath says, and then blinks a few times and turns his tail on Theodyn.
"Wait," Theodyn says and Sheogorath turns to look at him. The same journal Viperish Night had. "You... made sure Viperish Night had that book. And then it ended up in Jeziasi's hands. Did you want them to know the truth before Swims-In-Silence decided they should know?"
"She is still off my list," Sheogorath hisses. "But she's... again, do not TELL anyone but I have a soft spot for that damn Bosmer. She is just so interesting, so good at providing entertainment! Perhaps I could have snared her if Hircine had not. She did dive in after that mad son of hers. And that is SHEER madness." Sheogorath twitches his tail and seems to fade into a sunbeam and is gone.
Theodyn stares at the spot he had been for a few long moments then slowly shakes his head. Understanding Daedric Princes was impossible. Even trying might drive one insane.

In the daytime, in the hustle and bustle of Elden Root, it is hard to find a dark lonely corner but Rufico, at last, finds one. He is practiced at it, after all. The shadows swallow Rufico as he leans against the wall eyes closed, the light not daring to shine upon him as he sinks deeper into his thoughts. Into what he has done. He saved Iveryni but the cost of it...and to think he had threatened both Iveryni and Theodyn if they posed a risk to victory. Who was to threaten him when he was the risk?"
"She could be what Viperish Night is, in certain aspects,"
Rufico's eyes open and his hand falls to his knife. Not a single footstep, not a hint of breath to give her presence away. Rufico looks at what appears to be an Imperial girl, but who very much is not. Beneath her innocent appearance, Rufico can just see the golden glow that hides behind the aspect. Rufico's eyes turn dark, filled with steel and anger. "Breaking rules, Meridia," Rufico says in a low dangerous tone.
"I am not as bound as the others, and it is our champions we should not speak to. At least, that is the meaning we took." Meridia answers.
The look in her eyes has Rufico tightening his hold on his dagger. "Get to the damn point," Rufico says.
Meridia's eyes flash with anger at Rufico's tone but continues. "You have altered the state of things. For the better or worse, that has yet to be determined." Meridia pauses and her eyes narrow. Now the anger turns to hate. "I would have had that abomination destroyed, damn the Dunmer's soul, damn the problems it may cause in the future. And I would have my champion strong."
Rufico slowly withdraws his dagger, holding it at his side. "Looks like someone's not getting what they want," Rufico says and at Meridia's furious glare Rufico moves closer to her, daring to stare into those unfathomable eyes. "You can not have Theo, he no longer wants what you're selling. Stay away from him after all this is over."
The hidden glow starts to shine through as Meridia's anger grows. "You dare threaten a Daedric Prince, mortal?" she all but hisses.
"Oh, I dare," Rufico answers in turn. "The Dark Brotherhood means to show Molag Bal that he is not above The Void. I would not hesitate to do the same by you if I must, no matter what it cost me."
Meridia glowers at him for long moments before speaking her voice tight with anger. "You would risk your mortal soul for my Champion?"
Rufico cocks his head to the side and a smile crosses his face. "You with all of your power fail to get mortal love," Rufico says. "You are blinded by your hatred. Love can save, love can destroy, as an Argonian friend of mine is fond of saying." The smile falls and Rufico's eyes narrow. "For Theo, everything Meridia, everything. I will save him from your light. And you need us still. You may need us in the future."
"You fail to understand what you threaten," Meridia says and with a bright flash of light, she's gone.
Rufico's dagger returns to his belt and he lets out a breath and then throws his head back and laughs. "Best not tell Theo I did that," Rufico says to himself. That would terrify Theo to no end. Again, Rufico laughs as he moves from the shadows.

Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes as weariness pulls her under. Sometime later her eyes bolt open and she is on her feet in moments pushing the door to Iveryni's door open just as a heartwrenching scream breaks the silence. As Softly-Speckled-Crab enters the room she finds Iveryni sitting up in bed head thrown back. Softly-Speckled-Crab rushes to her side. "Calm, Iveryni, Calm," Softly-Speckled-Crab tells her.
Iveyrni lowers her head, her hair falling over her face. "How do I be calm?" Iveryni rasps. "How?" Iveryni drops her head in her hands as he body shakes, though no tears fall. How can they, when she is a creature of fire, a creature of Dagon now? The shaking grows worse as memories of the night flash through her mind. The all-consuming hatred, the feeling of being trapped by cruel fate, losing all control, forgetting to hold back the fire, forgetting that she had allies beyond the flames. Reveling in the fire as she slowly overwhelmed the source of her hate. No... that was incorrect. True, she hated Viperish Night for what he had done, but it was Mehrunes Dagon that was the heart of it.
Softly-Speckled-Crab places her hand on Iveryni's arm. "What is the depths of this, my friend?" Softly-Speckled-Crab gently asks.
Iveryni's hands fall. "I... I cannot say," Iveryni says.
"Mehrunes Dagon." Softly-Speckled-Crab looks up to see Rufico, to hear the words he uttered. Rufico pauses as Theodyn's footfalls race down the corner and he enters the room to stand near the Rufico. "He intends to move against Nirn in some way, I'm guessing he bound Iveryni to silence on this."
Iveryni stiffens. "He'll destroy all of you for knowing this."
Rufico shrugs. "He needs us still. They all do. And... we'll agree to not mention it outside the four of us." Rufico glances at Theodyn and a small smile graces his face, which Theodyn returns.
Softly-Speckled-Crab tilts her head. "You did see something," Softly-Speckled-Crab asks.
"Images in the flames," Rufico says. "Someone sent them to me. Glimpses of...a possible future."
"Azura," Softly-Speckled-Crab says firmly. "She showed me many possibles when all this first started."
"They can't talk to their champions, so they talk to other people. Sneaky bastards," Rufico says approvingly.
"Enough!" Iveryni snaps and three sets of eyes focus on hers. "How can you do this? Be here, talking about the why of it instead of...instead of..." Iveryni trails off. "He's not dead is he." Iveryni whispers.
"No, Iveryni," Rufico says. "Next time."
Iveryni's attention snaps to Rufico, her eyes wild. "You... did you stop me? Why did you stop me? Was it because..." Iveryni once more trails off as she pales. "It was too late to save them. My fires killed them all as surely as Viperish Night's undead army would. Why then? WHY? I already did the unspeakable, why stop me from ending the war when that was already lost? WHY?"
"Iveryni..." Rufico says and then moves from the wall to sit on the edge of the bed. "I should have. It was what I was trained for. No matter the cost. We all kinda agreed on that." Rufico stops and looks down at his hands.
Softly-Speckled-Crab continues for him. "You would have lost part of who you were, Iveryni. The best part." Softly-Speckled-Crab kneels by the bed. "The fire was destroying your mortal soul. I could feel it as your hatred fueled it. If you had killed Viperish Night, you would have been lost as well and what would have been in your place...would not have been our friend."
"You shattered and we had to save you," Theodyn says. "Rufico saved me, he saved you too. That...can't be wrong. It just cannot." Theodyn moves closer to the bed and by Rufico. It is always Rufico who steadies Theodyn, but today it is Theodyn who puts his hand on Rufico's shoulders, to steady the guilt that must be within him. Saving Iveryni was worth it, but it would cost them.
Iveryni's fists tighten on the blankets. "You should have let me kill Viperish Night, and then you should have killed me as well," Iveryni says. "You have no idea what is coming, and what he will make me do when it does."
Softly-Speckled-Crab places one of her hands on Iveryni who flinches at the gentle touch. "There is always another path," Softly-Speckled-Crab says, "Even if it seems impossible. We will not give up on you Iveryni."
"How can you be so sure?" Iveryni whispers.
Theodyn is the one that answers in a soft tone, "He let us go. Rufico asked, and he let us go. He even ordered Swims-in-Silence to stop blocking the portals."
Iveryni's eyes widen. "That..." she trails off.
"Impossible," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "And it may have no impact on what happens next. Yet, it did happen. There is hope in the darkness, Iveryni. There is hope in the fires you are lost in. Hope, and friends."
"Even though I murdered people?" Iveryni asks head falling.
Rufico laughs and Iveryni's head snaps up. "Iveryni, Iveryni, Iveryni," Rufico says as he tries to stop laughing. "Look at what I am. I am shadows, I would not cast shadows on you for what happened. It happened, move on. And trust in us to help you better."
Theodyn's eyes move to Iveryni's capturing her attention. "I caused innocent lives to be lost as well. When I was so blinded by hatred and the light. A chance that I could have stopped Viperish Night in Reaper's March and yet I listened to the light instead of my friends. All of you are STILL my friends, despite that. Why would you not be our friend still?"
Iveryni blinks rapidly. "I... I am sorry. I thought I could control it. Viperish Night may have drove me into the fire, but it was Mehrunes Dagon who... who chained me. I thought I could control the hatred, the rage."
"Let us help you," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
"I do not know if you can," Iveryni says and then sighs. "I will try. I will no longer hide this from you." Weariness crosses Iveryni's face. "I... feel as if I should cry. I want to, but I no longer can." Iveryni's eyes close. "Leave me for now. But...I do not mind if you stay close." Iveryni whispers. All her friends are here for her, their light touches as they reassure her and leave to let her rest is...a comfort. But as she lies down, she knows truth. Despite what Softly-Speckled-Crab said, it may be impossible to save her from this fate, and she may be the one that needed to be hunted down and killed in the future.

-Skyrim Tomb-
Viperish Night moves to his throne stares at it. Ebony black, in a tomb of the quiet undead, who followed his every whim. Who would help him purge Nirn of all life, ending the madness. It had almost all come to an end on this night. That assassin, the one who also had hurt his Egg-mother in a previous battle could of let it end. Instead... Viperish Night tilts his head trying to understand the why of it. He saved the fire witch instead. On her eve of her breaking, of becoming a monster, he saved her. What...if someone had saved him on that night in Oblivion's Isle? Stopped him from doing the unthinkable? Would he have wanted to once he woke to the world again, or would his mind have cleared? If he had a chance to think on Titumus's strange behavior, instead of being thrown one challenge and torture after the other? Viperish Night's eyes move to his Egg-Mother. She... tried to do what Rufico had done with Iveryni. But she had been too late, for his existence had been hidden from her. She had entered his life after he had fallen so very far in the depths. "Egg-mother," Viperish Night whispers. She comes to him, of course. She follows him into the dark, all to save him, or drown with him. So he may not be alone in the icy darkness that consumes his soul, even as the madness consumes his mind. "I cannot be saved," Viperish Night whispers, lowering his head and closing his eyes. "But I almost wish you could save me." Soon after he utters those words, he feels her forehead against his, her tears on his scales as she softly whispers his name.
"You saved me," Zirasha whispers as she watches mother and son. "You spared them."
Jeziasi feels her son shake, hears Zirasha's impossible, but true words. She remembers what Zirasha had said as she stood on the fire in agony unable to breach the flames to go to Viperish Night. Jeziasi opens her mouth to say something, then closes it. Unsure what to say, what is the wrong thing, and the right thing to utter at this moment that seems made of glass, that seems like it will shatter so very easily.
Tyranius is the one who speaks. "Pup, whatever you want to do, we'll follow you. You want to continue the war, fine by me. I'll reap their souls for you. But if you want to stop, I'll give my scythe a break."
Viperish Night starts at this, backing away from his Egg-mother as he stares at Tyranius, and then at each of them. "They will never stop hunting us," Viperish Night says, blinking rapidly.
"Nirn's big, pup. Just saying." Tyranius says.
Viperish Night suddenly hisses and stalks to the door. The ice melted so very fast this time, and the shards of clarity he had thought lost in the vicious battle with Iveryni are still with him, somehow. "I need...to think." Viperish Night says as he leaves.
Jeziasi watches him go an unreadable expression on her face. Zirasha moves toward her. This night had been like no other. Zirasha hesitates and then takes Jeziasi's hand in hers. "There can be no hope for us monsters...but I almost wish there were," Zirasha quietly says. "I could give all of this up if he wanted to. For our pack." Zirasha's eyes close as she lowers her head."I know there is no happy ending. But..."
"We keep swimming," Jeziasi says. "Toward what pulls us forward. I see what he was, what part of him still is. Even if nothing comes of it, I am here with him, and with all of you."
Tyranius crosses his arms over his chest. "Hope. Always thought it rather stupid," At the girls looks he shrugs. "You going to make me say it? Damn it." Tyranius stalks to the door and then pauses and takes off his helm, looking back at them."Never fought with those I liked better. Would not mind if it lasted longer." Tyranius makes a strange near growl and then walks out of the room.
Zirasha stares and then laughs. She lets go of Jeziasi's hand and spins around the room for a few times before falling against the wall. "Jez, bed." Zirasha says and starts for the door and then looks back. "You changed us," Zirasha says before bursting to mist and racing out.
"But I still cannot save you..." Jeziasi breaths. Still... they are pack. They still have time, even if nearly all hope is lost. Even as the shadows close in, and the river draws to its inevitable conclusion. A small sad smile crosses Jeziasi's face as she follows Zirasha.

In his room, Viperish Night traces his claws on the marks he has left in the stone as his head spins. Already he can feel the tickle against his spine of the screams, though they had not yet started again allowing shards of clarity to remain. It allows him to wonder why he had done what he had done. Was it just to anger his Egg-father and lure him in closer? Viperish Night leans his head against the wall. That... had not been in his thoughts when he sprung at the fire witch who sought to claim Zirasha. Nor when he let the heroes go. With a strange nearly unfamiliar pang Viperish Night hisses softly. He could not let Iveryni kill Zirasha, his pack-mate. The bloodthirsty vampire who also had been so very broken, like him. Who wanted to hurt the world in turn, like him. And the heroes? Iveryni was broken as well. He saw her break, knew that her fury and hate was not for him alone. Her eyes shone with the lost feeling of being trapped. He felt...kinship with her at that moment, despite his hate and rage at her for nearly killing his Egg-mother. And so when Rufico asked, Viperish Night let them go. With a chill, Viperish Night knows his Egg-father will do something horrific for this. Will try to torture him to send him closer to the depths. Why though, when Viperish Night knew that the depths would claim him in time anyway? Viperish Night hisses once more, claws curling against the stone as the air seems to turn frigid. "You dare come down here again?" Viperish Night hisses as he turns to face his Egg-father.
Swims-in-Silence's eyes glow and black flashes across Viperish Night's vision. When it fades Viperish Night is far from the tomb in a cave lit with eerie blue torches, Swims-in-Silence standing before him, eyes locked on Viperish Night's. Without a word, Swims-in-Silence steps aside allowing Viperish Night to see his former mentor, Mannimarco, chained to the wall, half-stripped and bloody from multiple wounds. His head is down, his eyes closed. As Viperish Night stares at Mannimarco, the very first time he's ever seen him in the flesh, an all too familiar surge of hate well up and his eyes narrow.
"You showed weakness today," Swims-in-Silence hisses. "I thought you needed a reminder of what I offer. This, an end to your suffering and so much more." Swims-in-Silence slowly starts to smile, his fangs glimmering. "Your pack will be saved as well. They are mine as well, after all."
Viperish Night hisses angrily at Swims-in-Silence, though his eyes never leave Mannimarco. Slowly he stalks toward Mannimarco, though it is flashbacks Valsvis that echo in his mind. How he made Valsvis suffer for taking his Rishima from him. It was the start of his fall, when his claws started slipped...when he let them start to slip. Viperish Night freezes feet from Mannimarco, shaking slightly. The urge to torture his former mentor, to hurt him as much as he could is nearly overwhelming. With a lunge, Viperish Night unfreezes and lands in front of Mannimarco his right claws wrapped around Mannimarco's throat.
Mannimarco's eyes slowly open. "He won't let you kill me," Mannimarco says.
Those eyes. Blue and so very cold. How had he gone so far with this monster before he saw truth? Viperish Night leans in and whispers one word, for meeting with Titumus had brought up so very many questions he had tried to ignore, but his memories had started to haunt him as of late. "Valsvis."
Mannimarco understands what Viperish Night is asking in a heartbeat, though his eyes show puzzlement as to why he's bringing this up, now. "No. He hated Argonians, hated you, all on his own." Mannimarco's eyes slide to Swims-in-Silence. "All we were responsible for was bringing him to Oblivion's Isle."
We. Viperish Night's claws dig into the side of Mannimarco's neck before he reluctantly drops them. He wants nothing more than to rip his claws across Mannimarco's throat but would Swims-in-Silence let him? Viperish Night hisses softly. His Egg-father would stop him from killing him...but perhaps not torturing him. Viperish Night's claws flex and he suddenly turns around to face Swims-in-Silence. He will not give this monster the satisfaction.
As Viperish Night's eyes glare at Swims-in-Silence, Swims-in-Silence tilts his head. "I would let you have a little fun with him. A taste of the torture you can inflict on him in Coldharbour once your war is over."
Viperish Night narrows his eyes. "You used the dreams to drive Titumus mad. To turn him on me." Viperish Night states. "All of this is because of you."
"I made you strong, everything I did was to this end," Swims-in-Silence says.
"So you would get what you wanted," Viperish Night says as his claws curl, Mannimarco's blood dripping upon the ground.
"I told you before, I would get something out of it but you would get far more," Swims-in-Silence says, stalking closer to Viperish Night. "Power beyond a mortals dreams, a chance to bring Nirn to its knees. And after? You will stand by my side in Coldharbour."
Loss crosses Viperish Night's eyes before it fades into the gloom. Into the hatred that shines so brightly in Viperish Night's eyes. "You never gave me a choice. When I tried to follow a different river...you forced me into yours." Viperish Night hisses, his claws scraping the stone ground as he struggles not to leap at Swims-in-Silence. "Both of you. I will end both of you."
Swims-in-Silence smiles at this. "Will you manage that before your Daedric side destroys the weakness in you?" he asks. Viperish Night turns away, but not before Swims-in-Silence reads the truth in Viperish Night's eyes. That he knows the depths will claim him. That he fears that he will not manage to kill his Egg-father before that happens. Swims-in-Silence moves in front of Viperish Night in blinding speed, grabbing Viperish Night by the throat and slamming him against the wall. "Why do you not surrender? SUBMIT. All you do is cause yourself agony. All you do is draw the end closer on your pack." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Mannimarco raises his head and laughs weakly. "Viperish Night, for all your power, you always was a fool. He'll use them against you. He'll torture and kill them once he gets tired of waiting. Why you continue to fall into this trap of caring for others, I will never know."
Viperish Night snarls and his claws streak out, Swims-in-Silence throws him across the cave before they can land to crash upon the floor. "Kill all the living. They live." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Viperish Night closes his eyes as his claws scratch the floor a shudder passing through him. Why did he? He had fallen so far into the depths, how could he care about anything anymore? After all, he had done, all the lives he had taken. He could not feel any remorse or regret about all those lives, not since he surrendered that night. And he no longer could deny it. Could tell his Egg-father they were just pets, just fodder, just soldiers at his command. He had shown far too much. Had not been able to hide anything. The madness clouded his mind, even as the war within continued. Viperish Night stands, his back to these monsters, who had made him into one as well. "Return me." Viperish Night hisses.
A portal opens in front of him. "If you stop this war..." Swims-in-Silence threatens, "I will make them suffer. I will take your pack from you."
Viperish Night's head lowers. Surrender, again, in a way. It brings the screams back, the shards of clarity melting under relentless madness and despair. They must end him. But for now... "Nirn deserves death as much as you do," Viperish Night hisses. "Both of you. I would not stop my war against them. I will drown Nirn." He steps toward the portal and then stops, his head turning to look at Swims-in-Silence. "If you think part of me weak, then you think my Egg-mother weak. But she beat you once. What does that make you?" Viperish Night turns his head from Swims-in-Silence's furious glare and Mannimarco's laughter and crosses through the portal.