Chapter 11: The Eye of the Storm

White noise rang in Serana's ears when reality set in. She looked around at the vampires that hissed and groaned, the streaks of blood running down their cheeks smeared. She looked beside her and a tentative hand reached out to touch her father's shoulder. It was shrugged off and slapped away, and her hand retreated to her chest as if she had been burned. She may as well have been.

"Father..."

What could she say? There was no deflecting the wrath of a wounded and insulted Lord. That Harkon was silent had been more terrifying than him exploding in rage. She was caught up in naive hope that maybe he would ignore it all and be happy that his scroll - and maybe his daughter - were finally home, but that hope didn't last long.

"Bring me her head," he quietly hissed between clenched teeth.

"Father, she was just scared," Serana blurted, desperate. "She's a waste of your time, a simpleton mortal who poses no threat. If she did, she would have burned this place to the ground." She tugged at the sash that was wrapped around her eyes to serve her point. "She still went out of her way to protect me."

Harkon seemed not to hear her, or chose not to. He stood and strode down the court with a fury, malevolent in the looks he spared the other wounded vampires. When the boons of their regeneration helped them with their eyes, they each looked at her with accusation and anger. She shrunk in her spot and inwardly cursed the hotheaded fire mage for the precarious situation Serana was trapped in now. She held on to the sash for both comfort and as a naive way of using it as some sort of voodoo object in hopes her curses were hexing that bloody Nord.

That was when she had noticed the strong smell of soot. Curious, she tugged the sash outwards. There were...

Serana masked her surprise. She stood up and retreated to her chambers without a word nor asking for permission, letting actions speak for her when she took the scroll and brought it back to father as she passed him. His scowling brow was one she knew all too well. One she could no longer care for. It didn't stop her from feeling like a little girl though, the heavy creases of his forehead knitted in disapproval and unkind judgment.

She took long and quick strides down the halls until she navigated her way back to her room, slamming the door shut. Her mind wandered and painted an image of her slamming it on someone else. Particularly their skull. Maybe it'd be the only way to get things through such a thick head.

"Why...?" Serana mumbled in defeat.

Her head thudded against the door. Maybe she was the one with a thick skull that needed slamming to get things through.

She tugged on the sash. It unravelled off her neck, and she stretched the sash between her hands. A message in soot - embroidered with a fiery edge - glowed at her.

"Meet me at the cave where we discovered a powerful witch."

Lips twinged in a sad smile. Tentatively, Serana thumbed at the fiery edge of a letter. It hadn't burned.

She wondered why Ashes - Ember, Ember was her name and it was going to take getting used to all over again - had done what she had done. She was afraid, yes, but she was promised she would be kept safe. Was it anger? Was there something else at play?

Was there something Serana could have done to prevent it all?

What if's never helped. There were countless of things she could have done. Ashes - Ember - didn't need to come inside in the first place. The fire mage protested to it. Yet, there didn't even seem to be a hint of suspicion as to what Serana's intentions were. There were no accusations thrown over the Elder Scroll, or whether the fire mage was being dragged into a death trap. There were no accusations hailed on departure.

Just this message was left. The Elder Scroll was left. Serana, and every single vampire in the court, was still left.

"What were you thinking, Ashes?"

Ember. Her name was Ember. After all that stress, all that distress, all that work to figure out that bloody foolish Nord's name, and Serana couldn't help but feel like calling her Ashes. It was so fitting, with what she had done. Once again she had burned it all to ashes. She was no Ember, with potential, with the means to ignite a comfortable warmth with a hearty campfire. No, she exploded and burned everything in her path like a blaze, leaving no evidence nor motive behind.

The more Serana tried to decrypt the puzzle and figure that hothead out, the more she was left in the dark instead. Was there rationalization for someone who was so motivated by her heart more than her head?

Serana took a deep breath and wrapped the sash around her neck again. It's material durable, yet soft. Heat radiated from it, but heat that she was used to, heat that she was even beginning to take a blasphemous liking to. Heat that made her miss her friend. The offensively bright and overbearing and loud presence had shuttered out of her life in the blink of an eye, leaving nothing but the silent trail of wispy smoke.

"What am I to do now?" Serana lamented with a sigh.

She carried on further within, wrinkling her nose at the dust that had accumulated inside. It had caked most everything. Father didn't even bother arranging anyone to clean her chambers. Could she truly blame him? On one hand, the realistic part of her knew he hadn't cared. On the other hand, the naive little daughter reasoned that it may have been too painful to acknowledge this room's existence, and therefore her missing for so many an era.

How had that affected him? The prophecy? Was he still obsessed with it? Of course he was. That vicious look in his eyes was on par with that of a feral beast. The Elder Scroll was still his priority, his thirst for their species to dominate the night and the day.

She didn't need any more information. She knew he was going to continue with his work no matter what the cost, and she had just handed him the vital piece to it all. All of this was to find out who she could trust, and yet that one and only person left the vicinity. She knew she couldn't trust father.

"Why did I come here?"

Serana fell on her bed and suppressed a cough when it kicked up dust. She tugged the sash up to her nose and inhaled deeply. Her forearm fell across her eyes. Her head hurt, and her heart ached from the answer. The naive little daughter was the reason she came here.

Nothing changed except for the worse. The castle was bloodier with revolting - revoltingly enticing - smells, and she recognized few of the members in court, all of them twisted by vicious savagery and blood permeating the resting-snarls on their faces. All that she was not was shoved in Ember's face, renewing the fire mage's primary motivation for everything that she was and set her heart to.

But the message...

With a frustrated sigh, she huffed. "What am I supposed to do?"

Serana turned on her side and pulled the sash further up so that it covered her entire face. She opened her eyes and they adjusted in the darkness, staring at the words that she could still read this close.

"Meet me."

Like a certain hothead, Serana took off without another thought. Thought she needed in order to escape. When Serana came out into the hallway, there were a couple vampires down on the other end, approaching. She could smell fury and sense bad intentions, snaking around her gut with dread. Had father ordered her capture? He must have known he would need more than two to take her down. He wasn't a fool, nor would he dare underestimate the powers of a Vampire Lord when he himself shared them with her.

Serana took a gamble and approached decisively, staring down the other vampires as they had calmly passed each other without incident - apart from their glares. She took great care not to appear or hold tension within her muscles nor her breath. It wasn't until she was at the corner of the court that she allowed herself to feel relief.

It was short-lived.

The bloodlust in here was enough to make her choke. Vampires tore more viciously into both carcasses and live victims on the dining tables to get their aggression out. A group huddled at the exit, blades and fangs brandished, with her father issuing orders to them.

Serana's eyes fell on the Elder Scroll. It rested on Harkon's throne.

Where could she escape to? She couldn't grab it now and make a run for it. She'd be caught by all the vampires in here, if not at the door. Father would know of her intentions and surely give in to his rage if he suspected her betrayal. Ashes would have taken the boat back to the mainland.

Serana had to play this smart. She had to bide her time. How much time that would take, only time itself would tell.

She returned to her room, cursing the fire mage under her breath.

Sweat had never been so unwelcomed than now. Ember had nothing to wipe herself down with. Though she may have been a Nord, she was not impervious to the powerful chill that rocked this tundra. Her teeth chattered lightly. It made her heart ache evermore with every step she took farther away, for all she could keep thinking about were the jokes she'd make at the vampire's expense.

Ember looked over her shoulder at the castle shrouded in the fog in the distance. There was an overwhelming tidal wave of emotions that still brewed hot within her, confusing her. She didn't know if she was furious or depressed, but this melancholic hole digging into her was the worst. She missed having a companion by her side.

She could first return to Solitude and see if she could meet up with Éclair and Damian at the tavern, and find out if the freed Legionnaires have returned home safely.

With her heart already made up, Ember begun the long trek home. She kept her focus on conjuring heat, the thick snow collapsing around her legs whenever she set them ablaze in short bursts. She looked at her black hand, where the alteration spell still ran strong and deep, overpowered by accident in the heat of the moment. She flexed her fingers and winced at the sharp pins and needles that buzzed like insects beneath her skin. They were still sensitive to movement. She sandwiched her hand between her armpit and ribs to shield it from the wind, and to bring some extra warmth to herself.

It was when she swiped and felt air instead of her sash that she reminded herself of the impromptu promise she had just made. She looked back at the castle again. Would Serana come? If she wanted to, when could she be able to?

Those other vampires weren't going to leave Ember alone.

Reality was setting in. Fear tangled with all the other confounding mess of emotions, and spurred her feet on to move faster. There was no way she wasn't going to be hunted down. But could she run away? What if Serana was captured and tortured for the message left on the sash? What if she was forced to lead them to Ember, or what if she was willing?

Something else gnarled deep and burned molten hot inside her chest, growing tight. Her breaths, lungs aching with every frigid breath in, quickened.

"She wouldn't," Ember hissed insistently to herself.

But what if?

With what she had just done, with how tense their relationship has been, could she be confident in their trust and friendship? With a vampire Ember admitted dedicating her life to eradicating?

Her chest wouldn't stop tightening. Her cheeks flushed hot, but she shivered.

She pushed herself to move faster, her flames behaving as erratically as the pendulum her emotions swung on. She needed to ensure her safety first before she wondered of Serana's.

Until guilt hopped on the wagon of her emotions.

"Fuck," Ember nipped under her breath, chewing her lip.

She looked behind her, seeing how far she had already come from the castle. It didn't stop her from taking a step towards it, but she froze, and forced herself to take one back.

"You've proven yourself as a selfless and noble ally, and I hope that politics will never drive us apart. I hope our friendship grows, that I..."

"I don't care for politics, and I won't regret helping you, so you can rest easy. We won't be driven apart."

Ember remembered the look in the vampire's eyes when she was called out for her true feelings on being a soldier in this bloody war. She remembered how Serana fought alongside her, with her, in the Thalmor complex, consequences and thoughts be damned. That vampire followed her into the jaws of hell itself, even when Ember was the cause of raising that hell all around them.

"Yet you risked your life to rescue strangers you do not know nor asked thanks for."

Neither did Serana. Ember never thanked her for that. She shouldn't have been thanked for doing her duty.

Gods, why was it so bloody hard to take that step towards the castle? This was Ember's mess. She dug that hole in for the both of them. It was her responsibility to dig their way back out of it, but that place was a nightmare. She could still taste the puke in her mouth. It was more welcome than the gruesome deathly stench that pervaded her nostrils and refused to leave.

Terrified, Ember took another step back, and ripped herself apart for it. Nords weren't cowards. Honour be damned, any Nord would be afraid in the face of those horrors!

Snow crunched in the distance, alerting her. She whipped around and scrutinized every little detail, her hands heating up and ready. She rushed over to take cover behind a tree. Adrenaline flooded her body, and when she stole a peek around the corner, her body stiffened. There was a tall fur-cloaked figure rapidly approaching her. If they needed furs, they weren't a vampire. But what if it was a disguise?

"Hold!" Ember yelled. She stuck out an arm and set her fist ablaze. "State your intentions or I will with this!"

The figure didn't say anything.

"I said hold!"

She tried again and again, reluctant to make good on her threat. She came out of her cover and tried to appear as intimidating as possible, setting her entire arm on fire next.

Her eyes widened when the figure pulled his hood down.

"D-Damian? What are you doing here?"

Her flames extinguished, and adrenaline flooded her body for a different reason as the quiet giant of a man encroached. He didn't say a single word as he passed her, and her temple twinged with annoyance. She whirled around and followed after him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you! Is your tongue frozen? Don't make me thaw it for you!"

Damian still didn't say anything. It wasn't until she realized that he was there alone when he was always by Éclair's side, no matter the circumstances. This wasn't a good sign.

"Damian, where's Éclair? Is she alright?"

It was as if he hadn't heard her at all. His body language gave nothing away. The fur cloak innocently sashayed behind him when he stormed through the thick snow as if he was on a mission. She snapped and packed a ball of snow in her hand, grimacing when she foolishly used her sensitive one, and threw it at him. No reaction. She did it again.

The snowball exploded in mid-air when a tiny bolt struck it.

"Je vais bien, merci," a cool voice drawled with amusement. "Still without your manners, I see. Brute."

Ember's head swivelled to look behind her as she jumped in her skin. Éclair was right there. She had exposed herself from hiding behind a tree not far away from the one the fire mage had taken cover. The small Breton wore a thinly veiled smirk, her skin extra pale with light frosting coating her features. She approached without making noise, which was eerie to see as the snow silently buckled beneath her boots enchanted by the deceptive power of illusion.

"Éclair, what are you doing here?"

"We followed you, of course." Éclair stuck her index and thumb in her mouth, whistling. "Attends-nous, Damian!"

Ember glanced over her shoulder and saw that he stopped, but still faced the castle. His hand rested on the pommel of his sword. She looked back at Éclair with confusion.

"Since when? And why?"

Éclair shrugged. "Since you thought we left you." She smiled deviously. "Did you really think I'd leave you alone with that vampire?"

Arms crossed, Ember stared, furiously working the pieces of the puzzle together. There was something more to this than what anger wanted to take a bite at. She narrowed her eyes.

Silence made Éclair cave in and tell the truth. The Breton hastily wrestled a journal out of her travelling sack.

"She is a gold mine of history, Ember!"

"Éclair, what on Nirn happened to duty? You said you had to report to Solitude."

"I never said when I would, though. Besides, the General will figure it out after the Legionnaires return home, and by then my report will be useless."

Ember's head lulled back with a groan. "By the Gods, and I thought I was bad for reports."

Éclair feigned deaf. "So? Where's Serana?"

The fire mage scowled sullenly. "First answer why you didn't help us fight the dragon. You know. The nice fellow that tried to bite my head off?"

And she feigned nonchalance. "You two looked like you had it under control."

"It was a dragon, Éclair! And since when do I ever have things under control?!"

The Breton's mouth curled in the kind of scary smile as if she discovered juicy gossip. "Since you paired up with a vampire you don't want to kill."

Ember groaned. "You're so lazy."

"I prefer to call it reserving my energy. Besides, you know I would've if I truly believed you needed help." Éclair gestured to the castle. "Now, more importantly-"

"I fail to see how a dragon trying to kill me is less important than where your history book is."

Éclair gestured more dramatically as she flung her hands in the direction of the castle. "Gold mine, Ember!"

"Talos smite me." Ember whirled around and marched to the castle, then froze. She smiled nervously when she glanced over. The Breton was giving her a strange look.

"Éclair, there are a lot of vampires in there."

"T'is her home, oui?"

"Well, yes, but... They're not friendly."

It was the Breton's turn to cross her arms, and Ember shrunk in her spot when even Damian had done the same, his heavy brow scrutinizing her. It said the words that came out of Éclair's mouth.

"Is there a reason for that? Perhaps one that involves fire?"

Ember huffed and marched off again with stubborn pride. "They asked for it."

"I sincerely doubt Serana would have. If she did, she'd be here with you, non? Damian, donne un manteau à Ember."

While the fire mage refused to tell the truth, Damian had taken out a thin cloak from his rucksack and tossed it over to her. She also refused to look at Éclair in the eyes. Ember wound the cloak around her waist, nodding in gratitude when Damian silently helped her by slicing the fabric that hung like a curtain between her legs, granting her ease of manoeuvrability.

Pale eyes pierced her and she was assaulted on both fronts, her friends peering at her with expectation. She caved with a sigh.

"I panicked, okay?! I left a message for Serana on where to meet me, but..." Ember chewed her lip and stared at the castle with worry. "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry isn't going to help her," Damian murmured. Though quiet, his words hit her as if he slammed a mace into her heart.

Ember bowed her head in guilt. She lifted it when Éclair's hand fell on her shoulder, and the Breton wore a reassuring smile.

"But what will is us."

Every plan Serana concocted had shortly ended in disaster within her mind. Without a boat, she couldn't leave the island. She didn't know how to build one. She was still weakened, so even if she had assumed the form of the Vampire Lord - something she would sooner rather not - it wasn't like she had the energy and enough power to be able to fly across. If she changed into a bat, she wouldn't be able to steal and get away with the Elder Scroll. She wasn't going to slip away that easily with everyone in the court on edge and suspicious of her in the first place, for bringing a vampire hunter in.

Serana nibbled on the flesh of her cheek in thought. She poured herself a glass of wine and went to sit by the fireplace, holding her hand out to logs charred eons ago. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine that they were on fire, that they exuded the warmth her friend's flames made.

It only made this all more frustrating. It was the distraction she didn't need right now, for she had to focus.

She sipped at her wine. Her mind painted images as she walked through the paths of her plans, visualizing everything and the things that might pose a problem or a threat.

Yells outside her room caught her attention. She set the wine glass aside and went to go to the court to investigate, nipping her tongue when the Elder Scroll was no longer on her father's throne, but in his hands. The shouts came from a couple of vampires that were arguing and fighting, probably over the thrall that was still half-alive on the table.

Harkon's eyes met hers. A shudder rolled down her spine, but she kept composed and remained level on his gaze until he was the one that looked away, stroking the scroll in his lap with a sour look. Typical. Never happy with anything. It was always just about power and that bloody prophecy. It was a shame those scrolls couldn't be destroyed. Part of her would take pleasure in it, staring right into his eyes. That irritating naive little daughter still held on to hope that he could be saved.

Serana slithered back to her chambers, taking the fire mage's sash off her neck. She draped it over her arm, and when she returned to her room, she took her seat and unfolded it on her lap to stare at the message. She sighed and raked a hand through her hair, then reached to sip her wine.

From an empty glass.

Instinct flared, and she stared inside of it, but what she kept a close eye on was whatever dared move in her peripheral vision. She played it nonchalant and shrugged, pretending she hadn't noticed as she went to go fetch a refill. There was nothing in the shadows. There was everything in the silence. She poured herself a glass and went to go back to her seat from the fireplace, until the glass was suddenly lifted right out of her hand. She summoned sparks in her hand and reeled back, bewildered by the floating glass as it tipped, looking like it was going to pour down on the ground. The liquid disappeared as it fell out of the glass.

Serana narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice menacingly. "Show yourself." The ball of electricity grew in her hand. "Or else."

A sigh.

"Another one without manners."

In the blink of an eye, the woman revealed herself. Serana schooled her surprise, but hadn't dispersed her sparks, just to be safe.

Éclair smiled. "How do you do, Lady Serana?" Her eyes snapped to the tiny bolts swirling and nodded to it. "If you continue to address me as a threat, might I suggest a different element? Lightning is something of a specialty of mine."

"What are you doing here?" Serana reluctantly dispelled her magic. She frowned when the Breton continued to sip at her wine. "You could have just asked for a glass."

"Wonderful, may I?"

Éclair helped herself at the vampire's desk and poured another glass, then topped off the one she stole. She held one in each hand but only nursed the one she took.

Serana crossed her arms. This kind of mischief was nothing she was entirely unused to. She kept her guard up, perhaps even higher than ever before. That this woman was here roused numerous suspicions.

"Weren't you supposed to be reporting to your commander?" Serana asked. "Answer me. What are you doing here?"

Éclair leaned against Serana's desk, and set the extra wine glass down.

It wasn't long before it floated too.

"We are here to get you out of here."

French Translation

Oui/non - yes/no

Je vais bien, merci - I am alright, thank you

Attends-nous - wait for us

donne un manteau à Ember - give Ember a cloak