The Bloodcursed arrow soared through the morning sky and disappeared towards the sun that burst into a swirling, black and red orb and dimmed the sky. Ryvren inhaled as he felt the energy return to his body. He holstered the bow and summoned the dark power that burned inside his soul. Becoming a creature of blood and death, his elven body changed into a being with sickly blue skin and torn wings grew on his back. His soulless, black eyes twinkled with bloodlust. His clawed feet hovered above the ground. With his friend at his side and the rest his followers behind, the court of vampires entered the cave and followed the path to the fort. He ordered the court to attack as the Dawnguard were firing steel bolts behind a wooden gate.

Fura Bloodmouth bashed the gates open with a battle ax, allowing the others to charge through.

An orc swung a warhammer at the vampire lord, but he grabbed the weapon out of the orc's hand and tossed it aside. The orc tried to flee, but was grabbed by the shoulder and with animalistic claws, the vampire lord clawed the orc's throat open. The vampire lord turned just as Orthjolf was stabbed in the chest by a Dawnguard who was quickly decapitated by Fura. Namasur was slain by an axe to the head, but was avenged by Ronthil with fireball to the head. Once the guards were dead, the vampire lord silently led his court to the unguarded doors and opened it to a circled group of Dawnguard aiming crossbows with Isran in the middle with warhammer at the ready. Without giving them a chance to process, the vampire lord turned to a young man holding a crossbow in unsteady hands.

Ryvren remembered him. He was a farmer and recruited on the same day when he himself first joined. The nervous boy couldn't even walk to the fort alone. He raised a clawed hand with crimson magic swirling in the palm and began to absorb the life from his body. Steel bolts fired into his own body, but the boy's life force was healing his own wounds and the vampires began to slaughter. The vampire lord turned to Isran and dodged the warhammer that was aimed for the crook of his neck. He wanted to tear Isran open ith his claws and drain him of his life, but his ebony swords also wanted to taste Dawnguard blood. "You failed," he growled with jagged teeth bared. "The vampires will carry on while you rot."

"As if Stendarr would allow it!"

An aura of golden light surrounded the leader, making the vampire lord turn away. He cried out when the warhammer slammed against his head. He attempted to absorb the leader of his life, but when the warhammer was raised, the vampire lord burst into dozens of bats, flew across the room, and reappeared. His body contorted in agony as he changed back into his elven form and just as the trasformation was complete, he barely dodged another blow to the head. He unsheathed his twin swords and slashed at the leader, but was blocked by the warhammer's shaft.

The duelist's fury kept forcing the Redguard to block and step back. He needed to conserve his strength, but all he could see was the blazing fire. Irsan blocked both blades and just as Ryvren was about to attempt to stab him, the man shoved him away and swung. Ryvren went to block the blow, but his left forearm took a direct hit. He screamed as his sword flew from his arm that was making him sick with pain. He held the broken arm close to his chest, relieved that it wasn't his dominate hand. Isran took another swing, but Ryvren saw the opening and charged into the leader; burying the sword into the man's gut.

The golden aura vanished and the man froze. His dark eyes locked on the vampire's. The warhammer was dead weight in his hands.

Ryvren tore the blade out and left the Dawnguard leader to fall to the ground and roll onto his back. He held up a hand with a golden glow, but the vampire stepped on his wrist. "No," he grimly stated. "You will not heal." He cried out as a shooting pain struck the back of his right shoulder, making him drop his sword and stagger forward. He turned to a Dawnguard loading a steel bolt into the crossbow. He saw Fura decapitated a Dawnguard as another Dawnguard stabbed Modhna.

Serana was not to be found.

Ryvren leaned against the wall with his left shoulder, sucking in deep breaths. He summoned a fire spell in his right hand, but was unable to lift his arm. He looked at Isran and the man's lifeless gaze stared at nothing. He looked back at the crossbow that was now aimed at his head. He bared his fangs, but jolted as an ice spike appeared into the Dawnguard's head, sending his lifeless body flying towards the vampire, and rag dolled. Another ice spike landed in the back of another Dawnguard, who had Garan pinned. There stood Serana at the opening of the stairwell and among bodies of Dawnguard and vampires that laid in pools of blood.

"Good timing," Ryvren emotionlessly mused. "Is the fort empty?"

"Upstairs is," she answered, approaching him.

He turned to the four remaining vampires' gazes. "Heal if needed and see if there are others hiding and find my children!"

They all did what they were told.

Garan thanked Serana as he walked passed her, who dipped her head.

Serana looked back at Ryvren. "You have steel bolt in your shoulder."

"Didn't notice," he dryly replied.

She hummed in amusement. "Let me heal you. Turn to me."

He turned his back to her and snarled as the bolt was torn from his shoulder, then felt distant warmth on the wound.

"You're lucky it was the right side. If it was the left, it could have hit your heart."

"Too bad he had bad aim." He slowly rotated his shoulder. "Better. Thank you."

"Let me see your arm."

He turned to face her and carefully held out his broken arm. With healing spell at the ready, she carefully took his hand into her own and held the spell over the forearm. Already he was starting to feel the sickening ache dissipate and was able to move his fingers again. His dented gauntlets, however, did not survive. "Thank you. Any sign of the kids?"

She sadly shook her head, dismissing the healing spell.

One by one vampires returned with no reports of the children or remaining Dawnguard. It was as if the children were ever here.

Ryvren calmly picked up his swords and sheathed them. "Do want you can with our dead," he calmly stated. "Up to all of you. Until then, leave me be. Serana. A word." He walked to the mess hall with his friend following and the moment he stood at the head of the table, he slammed his fists down on its surface. "WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?" His roar echoed through the stoned halls.

"Ryvren–"

"They were supposed to be here! I know it was the Dawnguard who took them! I saw the distinct armor from the fire's light. I was saw their crest! It was them! They could not have killed children, right? Did they drop them off somewhere? Are they still in the land?"

"Ryvren. We will find them."

He snapped his gaze to her. "When, Serana? When?"

"You know I can't answer that."

He bowed his head and roughly shoved himself away from the table. If this place wasn't stone, he'd burn it to the ground with the bodies inside just like they did with his wife. He sucked in breaths of air, trying to compose himself, but instead, he summoned a ball of fire in his hand, stepped back, and shot it at the wooden table that was immediately engulfed in flames. He noticed a shelf stacked with meads and ales in the back. He walked over to it and snatch a bottle of mead.

"Don't you dare!" Serana screamed.

"You think I care?" He shouted, glaring at the woman while popping the cork off.

A small ice spike was launched out of her hand and shattered the bottle. Golden liquid splashed everywhere. She stormed to him without taking her eyes off of him. "You give up now, you'll throw everything away!"

He grabbed her upper arms. "I already lost everything!"

Her face softened.

"Everything I fought for– lived and breathe for– are gone!" He hated how his own voice was failing him. "My wife is dead. My home is destroyed. My children could be in Cyrodiil for all I know." His grip loosened on her arms. "I have nothing, Serana."

"You have me," she murmured. "I'll be at your side. No matter what. You know this."

Ryvren looked her in the eyes. Despite glowing like the monsters they both were, there was always a gentleness in her own. Serana was the most human out of all of the Castle Volkihar and she didn't even know it. The flames beside them made her eyes reflect a life that he had never seen seen before. She was like a gentle flame– to burn if too close, but brought warmth and comfort if carefully treated. The inferno that raged within the Dunmer's heart was never ending, but was always brought to be the same gentle flame by the right people. His inferno was fueled by a hunger for blood and death– power and fear. He will always be knee-deep in blood, but now, all he wanted was peace. He needed the inferno to be silent. "I need my children back," he whispered. "I need to be human again, Serana. I-I can't…." His voice faded as he bowed his head. It felt like he was in that storm again. The ship had already sank and he was left to drown in the icy waters. How he just wanted to drown and extinguish the inferno, leaving nothing behind but a ruthless man that deserved nothing but death.

Serana placed a gentle hand on his cheek, making him look at her in the eyes. "Riften has an orphanage, right? Let's check there, okay? If they're not there, let's get you cured and see where else we can look, okay?"

He took a breath, bowing his head. "Yes. Good idea." He straightened up,, turned back to the main hall, and saw the vampires were already gone along with their dead. He inhaled. "Let's go." He looked at her. "And…thank you for stopping me."

She lightly smiled. "Anytime."

They stepped of the fort and the sun was back to normal, making Serana put her hood over her head.

They walked down the path and away from Fort Dawnguard for good. Never again did vampires need to worry about being hunted by these people again. They walked out of the cave where Shadowmere loyally waited. Taking the reins, Ryvren led the horse with his friend at his side. The walk was in silent. He was tired and didn't want to think. He wasn't even paying attention as they were walking through the golden woods until he found himself standing at Riften's stables. The walk felt so…short. Leaving his horse by the stables, the pair walked through the city gates. Riften was not a favorite of Ryvren's. It was filthy, shady, and overall unsafe, but nothing that he couldn't handle. He made a beeline for the orphanage, remembering the only time he walked through its door was to simply kill an old woman in her sleep. The ebony-cladded Dunmer threw the door open and stepped inside to a group of children sitting the table having breakfast. Before he could open his mouth, a little girl cried:

"Papa!"

He blinked as Aventus spun his head over his shoulder so fast and both children hopped out of their seats and ran to him. He fell to his knees and embraced his son and daughter, kissing their heads. Tears burned in his eyes. "I am never losing you two again," he whispered. "Not ever." He firmly pulled them back, looking them both in the eyes. "I assume they didn't hurt you?"

"No," his children murmured.

Lucia sniffled, rubbing her eyes with a grin. "You found us."

He cupped her chin with a gentle hand. "I'll always find you."

"They were training me," Aventus replied.

"I stayed to myself," Lucia said. "Isran didn't know what had happened."

"We'll talk more shortly." He stood up and looked at an approaching, young woman. "I'm their father. Can I take them or–"

She smiled and shook her head. "They are free to go home."

He smiled. "Thank you for keeping them safe them."

"Of course! I am just relieved that you came for them. They were sure that you would, too."

Lucia hurried to the hall as Aventus said farewell to his friends. The little girl returned with a doll and spoke to a little Dunmeri girl and the two hugged.

It pained Ryvren to see his children make friends only to leave them. Hopefully where they end up living, they'll have local friends. His children returned to him and he took their hands in their own.

They happily greeted Serana, who opened the door for them.

"What's the doll, Lucia?" Ryvren asked.

"Constance made it!" She grinned, holding the green doll close. "It's stuffed with snowberry leaves and lavender and smells really nice. Her name is Emerald because she's green. Papa?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened? We heard about the sun and we knew it was you."

"We went to Ford Dawnguard. They will be never hurt any of us again. What were you saying about Isran?"

"He didn't know about the attack. A guy named Otar led the group and got carried away. The order was just to kill you…."

"Was he punished?"

"No," Aventus grumbled.

"Did they know your mother wasn't a vampire or did they not care?"

"They didn't care," he venomously spat. "She was stabbed in the back."

Ryvren looked at his son. "Aventus. Did you see that?"

The boy looked at his feet as they walked.

"They are dead," he icily stated. "All of them."

"Good," he grumbled. He looked at him. "The Dawnguard were planning an attack the castle. When we heard about the sun this morning, we weren't sure…."

"They tried to kill us, but failed. When did they bring you here?"

"Yesterday," Lucia answered.

They walked out of the city to the waiting carriage by the stables. He turned to his children and knelt in front of them, looking them in the eyes with a firm hand on their shoulders. "You are going to go with Serana to Dawnstar and I will meet you there as soon as I can."

"What?" They both cried, jumping back with wide eyes.

"Why?" Aventus croaked.

"There's something I have to do. Do you remember the password."

"Papa," Lucia tried.

"Do you?"

"Yes," they both murmured.

He stood up and looked at Serana. "Can you go with them to the Sanctuary and wait with them till I get back?"

She nodded. "Of course." She crossed her arms. "I don't have to deal with Cicero, do I?"

"Killian or Nazir will keep him at bay."

"Where are you going?" Lucia asked.

"Marthol." He walked to the carriage driver, who was standing by the stables. "Can you take them to Dawnstar?" He held out a small purse of coin.

"Of course." The man got on the carriage, looking back to his passengers.

Ryvren returned to his family and gave his children another hug. "I'll be back before you know it. I promise."

Lucia's eyes began to water.

He took her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes. "I will be back soon."

"I know," she croaked, rubbing her eyes. "It's just been so hard…."

"I know, but when I get back, I am not leaving you both again. We will look at a place in Whiterun to live."

She blinked. "Whiterun?"

"Yes."

"I haven't been to Whiterun before," Aventus said.

Lucia beamed at her brother. "It's really pretty and small!"

"Now," Ryvren said, "on the carriage, you two."

They obeyed, but looked at him once they sat down.

"Why can't we come with you?" Aventus asked.

"I have to do this alone." He turned to Serana. "Thank you. I appreciate you."

"I appreciate you, too," she gently replied. She stepped on the carriage and sat across from the children. Immediately, Lucia got up and sat beside her. Serana held the girl close like a mother would.

Ryvren watched the carriage begin its journey. There was no one else that he could trust someone with the safety of his children other than Serana. The children always liked her when she would be over and now that they lost their mother, they would need someone to take on the motherly role. Not to replace their mother, but someone to be there for them. He hopped on Shadowmere and gently kicked the horse to start trotting down the path, passing the carriage. However, he was not ready to have someone fill in his beloved wife's place no matter who she was as they were not ready to have a new mother. They needed his father and he was going to be their father till his dying breath.