her forgotten home
The trees here are dying. In this land, the dark forms should be thriving so close to the end of winter. They're pine, or as father liked to call them, glorious weeds. Serana gives them a contemplative look. It is possible her mother could help their state. If only they can get her out of her self-isolation on time. After running her hand along the bark and detecting the lifeforce in one of these trees, Serana finds it has little life left.
"Getting lost already? I thought you knew this place like the back of your hand." The mercenary jokes behind her. She has to stifle a sigh. She finds she enjoys his bantering from time to time, but after so many months of it, it can grow thin.
Vorstag moves to stand next to her, the Nord man's brow furrows when he lays a large hand over hers. He can feel the lifeforce just as well as she can. "This tree, it's dying."
Serana turns her head ever so slightly to watch him. He is pretty, for a Nord, very handsome. He has gold-colored eyes and very long hair that was always tied back. His tattoo he used to have is now fading with his new state as a vampire. She just sometimes wishes he would tone down the high energy. New vampires never knew when to relax.
"They're almost all dead. Some are still alive though. I'm thinking mother can help me revive them." She says softly, then she leaves his waiting hand to reach the edge of the dense forest.
There it is. Her family home blown to pieces. Even from this distance, she can see the rubble. She knew this would happen eventually but wasn't sure how long the castle would last. In truth, she guessed it wasn't her family home for a long time. Not after father inhabited it with his crazy ideas. Not after his death and when the Dark Brotherhood took it over for those few short months her and Vorstag were running around Skyrim.
The Imperials did a very good job of turning this castle to ash. Serana supposes it was the only way to rid it of the Dark Brotherhood. But catapults that rained flaming projectiles from the sky was a bit of overkill, in her opinion. Now, there's nothing left. The foundation still sits on the great rock in the middle of the ocean but the rest of it is gone. It's a challenge to keep her mood from dipping. She remembers she had so many books in there, scrolls, ingredients. Things she wanted to keep. But since she never got the time to take them away before father's prying eyes would find out…she just left them.
Now, watching the waves lick the crumbling castle, she supposes her prolonged young adulthood is just…gone. No more. She doesn't have to answer to anyone. Doesn't have to worry about being locked up underground for eternity. All she has to worry about is finding her mother.
A calming hand rests on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss." Vorstag says genuinely. He says it in such a melodic voice. Only one a good bard would have. It was no wonder he spent his downtime singing and playing the lute.
She shrugs, brushing his hand off. "It happens. I guess it was never meant to be."
To be fair, she did wish to walk the halls again once the final villain in there was gone. When the Dragonborn was decimated and sent to another province. She thought she'd have this place back. But maybe she's better off. Maybe then she would have been living in the past.
"Well, let's get in there. I hope to all the gods that might be listening, and Molag Bal himself, that that portal to the Soul Cairn is still active." She adds and scours the ground from afar. There won't be much to traverse, and the portal might be inaccessible as of now.
Ever the optimist, as she is finding, Vorstag grins down at her. "We shall see, Volkihar. Let us traverse this mountain and ruins before we think on that. Don't want to get ahead of ourselves now."
She smiles a little at that. "I definitely hope so, at least it won't be raining." She peers up beneath her hood at the clouded sky. Vampires were better suited for running around after dark. But there are a few that make the daytime work. If it was overcast, as it was today, they were less likely to burn. Which is why Vorstag was walking around so confidently without something like a cloak to shield him. She was smarter about it. Her hood kept most of the assaulting sun from view. As much as she appreciates appetizing delicacies from time to time, she doesn't want to end up like a roasted skeever today.
Thankfully, the boat they use to shuttle across the channel is still here. It's small and never really held that many people. But then again, father never sent that many people away. She was still surprised the Dark Brotherhood left it after using the castle as their Sanctuary for so long. Maybe they forgot about it.
Vorstag, ever the gentleman, had her sit up front. She keeps her cloak tucked nice and tight around her so no water will splash on it. He grabbed the oars and began rowing. With nothing else to look at, she spies how his arms worked. He always seemed to have very prominent muscles as a human, so she was told, but now they look even stronger.
"Staring again Volkihar? I thought you were just getting over my looks and good charm." He jokes. She averts her eyes quickly. She knew the joking would come around to her eventually, after so long together, and it did. To her absolute horror, in the past month or so, he's been taken to joking about her appreciation of him.
She would catch herself sometimes, just staring off at nothing and find herself mesmerized by his face or his body. It was embarrassing. But since he was the only person she had to talk to, she couldn't blame herself. Maybe now that the threat from the Dragonborn was over she could get out and meet other people.
But for now, not to be outdone she sent back something of her own. "Hard to look anywhere when you take up most of the boat." She pulls her hood down lower for some semblance of privacy. She knows he can still see her glowing eyes.
"Oh, come on now! You know an excess of food won't fatten us up." He jokes, but his tone dips a bit, as if she hurt his feelings.
Serana finds herself flustered momentarily. "No, I…I didn't mean it that way. I just mean your frame. You're very large…" She trails off. But based on the amused glance he gives her; she's finds she's digging herself a larger hole. Wonderful.
The gray colored waves hold some sort of distraction. The lapping of the water melds with his on-tune whistling. Serana racks her brain of what song he might be singing this time. But then the bow of the boat scrapes onto land.
"Here we are, miss. Home sweet home." He whistles again as he ties the rope of the boat to a nearby rock. She just stares. Lost in the sight before her. She can't believe he can be so positive about this. It should lighten her mood…and it usually does.
But that pain comes back. Walking these halls again should bring back loving memories here. Serana should have had a better life here as a vampire. Instead, she was locked away since the Second Era. Some days she still remembers when the Alessian Empire was just a babe. There used to be nothing in Cyrodiil. Sometimes, she wonders what it would be like to walk those great cities Vorstag talks so fondly about.
It was jarring, to say the least, when she woke up and found all the Dwemer gone. Found out that the Empire had formed into as big a beast as it is.
"Volkihar, are you having flashbacks again?" Vorstag is looking at her expectantly from ten feet ahead. He was already scaling the rocks here. She thought he was making another joke, but she notices the concern on his face.
"A little. Not as bad as when we got near the Thalmor Embassy." She says. In truth, it didn't startle her that much. She was just surprised the High Elves got this far. She didn't know they had the ability to expand like they did.
Vorstag gives a meek smile, "We don't have to worry about them much now, Ulfric has it under control."
She doesn't dare tell him she's seen these kinds of things play out before. Rebellions come and go. If the Empire were as vast as they say, then surely, they'll find a way to squash someone like Ulfric Stormcloak.
Vorstag leads the way. Serana follows along slowly. She wanted to look around to see if there's any signs of the portal falling through the foundation. It could have, those things aren't very breakable. It would take a long time to get through the rubble to it. But her mother was worth it.
The man is silent for once when she climbs up next to him. He usually has some sort of quick remark for her. But he just seems sad. Serana follows his eyes and feel her spirits falling as well. The castle is completely gone. No trace left. She guesses that's what happens when you launch flaming projectiles from your city. The foundations are covered in brick and other debris. She finds nothing of use as she sifts through it.
Vorstag was walking around too. At least he was helping. She pauses in her search, deciding she shouldn't be so harsh on him. He was incredibly useful when needed. Her contemplation is broken when she sees feels a leather binding beneath the ash. The blackness falls away with her excitement, it was most certainly one of her precious books. But that too, is turning black with age and the former flame here.
"Find anything?"
"Nothing useful." She comments. They scout the area where the portal should be in a very solitary part of the castle. Vorstag still wishes for some conversation.
"Your father built this place?"
"Nope. Conquered it like the Dragonborn did. This castle was built a long, long time ago. I thought you noticed with all the skeletons that used to walk around here?" Serana moves more dust and dirt. Nothing.
"I just can't believe such a place existed without much knowledge…"
"Most literature on it was burned or discarded. Father was obsessed with his prophecy and would do whatever he could to make it come true. Even if it meant living in near isolation." She sheds some light on the subject.
"I think I understand now, he didn't want anyone else to find him?" Vorstag is rubbing his chin with that look of concentration on his face. Serana just watches him. Sometimes she found his strange mannerisms endearing.
"No. Especially the Dawnguard."
"They weren't the ones he had to worry about." He finishes on.
"Nope." She thinks back to her time with Eve, another vampire friend, here. She knew what Serana's father did to her parents. And Serana was horrified to find he murdered them in cold blood. Father's wrath knew no end, when he wanted something. Eve was lucky enough to figure out what was going on with in the castle. They went to the Soul Carin and met Serana's mother before finding out the true cost of the prophecy: Serana herself. That was when Eve killed Lord Harkon. Serana thought she'd be sad about that, but he was never a good paternal figure to her. More like a…dictator or something similar.
"Here's something!" Vorstag exclaims and crouches in the rubble. Serana pulls her cloak up to keep the silvery ashes from sticking to it. They're hard to wash off and never looked great on black.
Vorstag is just moving the dirt around when she sees the hand moving around in the embers. Serana shoves him as hard as she can and without warning. He goes flying and crashing over the ground. His loud exclamation heard along with a few bones snapping. But she's glad she did it. Before Serana stands a vampire. An old Dark Brotherhood vampire who must have survived this whole ordeal. How…
It snarls at her. Serana can't make out any features, what race, or gender it is, even how old it is. The face is blackened skin and festering wounds. The teeth are elongated and eyes sharp. She tries to duck but the darn thing bites her in the forearm before she can really move.
"Serana get back!" She hears Vorstag racing to the fight.
But it was too late, Serana had fallen back into that panic she sometimes gets in fights. She was never that good at a bow and arrow or even a sword. She has an Elven Dagger, just in case, but prefers to lean on magic.
Serana calls a flame spell and the vampire screams with it. She's sure it doesn't like getting more heat after everything. It uses her momentum against her, however. Shoving her so hard she falls onto her back. The thing races along her slim body to snap its fangs near her neck.
Serana's heart is pounding. She knew she made a mistake. She should have run and fought it from afar! Then, she could use her ice spells. She keeps her hands on its head, trying to keep it back from her, even with its fangs snapping in her face. Serana's hands light up, she's so close to sending a few ice picks through its head. Then she'll see how it likes that.
It was forming in her hands. The sharp edges are blossoming along the creature's face. She's just about to send it through when the head comes crashing down. She screams as it falls on her and rolls off to the side. She's left to spit out what blackened skin she can.
The body is ripped off her. Vorstag crouches next to her, his eyes look terrified. "What did I tell you? If there's a fight you let me handle it!" He yells at her.
She's still shivering with fright. Now all she wants to do is sink into the ground. She wishes a hole would open up here and claim her for another few centuries. Anything to get out of this. "I'm sorry. I saw what it was and didn't want it to get you first."
"Volkihar! What do you think I am? A mortal? I'm as strong as you and have far more fighting experience." He drops his blade and sighs when he sees her trying to catch her breath.
"Here. Your face is bleeding." He lays a soft hand on her head. A healing spell seals it up. She's surprised how quickly the sting is gone.
But she doesn't want his touch right now. She rolls out from under him and crouches to get all the ashes off her. So much for keeping her clothes clean. "Now that we know about sleeping vampires, we'll know what to watch out for." She gives a small smile.
Vorstag still has a look of concern. "You sure you're okay?"
She has to swallow more of that embarrassment. He was never so concerned with Eve. He knew she could take care of herself. "I'm fine. Really. Let's go look, I think the portal is this way."
She feels him wanting to reach out again, but she just hustles past him before he can do it. "Might want to find a mirror, Vorstag, your hair is looking messy for once." She tries for a joke. Anything to redirect his attention from her mistake.
His smile breaks out. That perfect and devious smile. "It's not the first time it's been a mess, you should see it after a good night at the Silver-Blood Inn."
She doesn't say anything more. Doesn't really want to hear about women sleeping with him. Talk about an unappealing topic. "Don't want to hear about your conquests. Not when we're looking for my mother."
"Conquests? I meant bar fights." He follows her, chipper and mood intact.
She sighs. Maybe she should have left him in the ash. They poke around for hours with this kind of sparring back and forth. But came up short. There isn't anything here. Serana is down on her knees, moving as much ash as she can. "It should have been here."
"Maybe it fell apart?" He asks near her. He has a warrior's posture, his weapon out and at the ready. But Serana doesn't sense any other vampires around.
"No. That doesn't happen." She moves her palms around. She should be able to feel the magic. It's this pulsing in the air. Like something heavy is holding it down, she guesses it feels like a ton of humidity in a dry climate. Something weird and out of place. "I don't feel anything."
"Want to look down below? Maybe it fell into the foundation."
She shakes her head. "No. I would still feel it. It must have crumpled up."
He tilts his head, "Whatever does that mean?"
"It means, the portal is gone. It left the world. Only those in the Soul Cairn can decide when that happens. No amount of fire falling from the sky can make it do that. I'm guessing they didn't like what was going on out here."
He feels her mood. She doesn't want to be pushed, and he doesn't. He just helps her up. "We'll think about it. No reason we can't come back. Want to turn in at the Winking Skeever?"
She fixes a fake smile on her face. She doesn't really want to go back there considering they spent two nights there already. She'd rather have a place with some peace and quiet. But she can't say no. There aren't any other options. "Sure."
If one were to see the flagship bar of this city now, they wouldn't have guessed a war raged just a few feet from this very Inn. In the springtime there was no way to enter the building without seeing crumbling stone and burned supporting beams. Now, it looked good as new. People are crowding the room. It's hard to concentrate with all these hearts in here. Vorstag was the life of the party, as he always was. He's over in the main dining room, banging his drum in time with the bard's songs.
As for Serana? Well, she's back in the corner. Resigning herself to the party atmosphere, she had her little book with her. One she bought from a Khajiit traveler. She tries to keep it hidden with her body hunching over it. She was just getting to the best part. She thought about heading to her room to read, but it's not as fun there. Vorstag would just follow her. He's always worried for her safety. As if assassins will target her after what happened with the Imperials. Serana reassured him she wants nothing to do with any of them, the Dark Brotherhood, Imperials, or Stormcloaks. So, she shouldn't be a target.
But she makes sure to appease Vorstag for the day. She sits with her book in the corner, he keeps a good eye on her to know she's still breathing. With nothing to bring her spirits down, she flips another page and continues to read merrily. But the scraping of metal on wood has her pause. The man bartending had shoved a drink her way. "Thought you might want it for that." He winks at her.
Serana scrunches up her nose. She had no idea what he's talking about. She just takes a sip and nearly spits it back out. Mead. It's disgusting, it was like sour wheat in her mouth. She never really liked it. After making sure the bartender isn't watching her corner still, she lets the drink be and read the contents of this next page. She's going through it quickly. She should have gotten more books but didn't want to weigh herself down. She decides she'll have to next time she's out.
"No. No way!" Some invisible force tugs and the book goes flying out of her hands. She yelps at the intrusion. Leaning against the bar Vorstag, slightly inebriated, reads the cover then the page she was on. "I've been looking for Lusty Argonian Maid for ages! Where'd you find this beauty?" He flips a page.
If she weren't dead, she would feel her cheeks flaming. As it was, she couldn't really disappear into the crowd, but she could stop him from boasting more about her reading tastes. She snatches it back before he can yank it away from her again.
"I thought you wanted to play keep away." He pouts a bit.
"That's one of the perks of not drinking. I keep my reflexes." She puts the book away in her bag. Secretly, she thinks he might have let her keep it. He knew how embarrassed she felt.
He leans on his forearms, moving closer to her. "That book has a way with words. So much poetry to expose…among other things, I'm sure. Care if I borrow it when you're done?" His eyebrows raise.
He was asking for it. There was no way he wasn't. She grabs the almost full mug right in front of her and flings it towards him. He laughs but with those damn vampire reflexes, he ducks just in time to avoid the rain of alcohol. "Hey!" A Stormcloak soldier behind him yells.
Serana slinks off her bartstool and pulls her hood up higher. He won't know it was her. "Did you just do that you scum?" He yells at Vorstag.
This isn't good. She readies some ice spikes in her hands. No one will know her hands are glowing. But she doesn't get a chance to raise them when Vorstag obliviously asks the soldier, "What's it to you? You should calm down. You know that kind of anger isn't something that's good to keep about. My mothers had this way of calming themselves…a sort of meditation." He goes on with his past life. Where he lived with his brother and traveling with a group of female healers. This was before he became a mercenary.
The Stormcloak wasn't having it. "I'll show you skeever." He punches him so quickly, Serana knew it was a bad idea to drink around here. Vorstag's large body comes falling back towards her. She yelps when he crowds her in. She's literally pinned to the wall now. Wonderful.
"That wasn't nice! I was going to show you the crystals they used but it doesn't look like you're interested." Vorstag keeps going. This time, he dodges each blow the guy deals him. Serana watches with wonder. He's so quick and he's using that newfound speed to his advantage. He finally twists the Stormcloak around and has him pinned to the bar.
People scramble to get out of their way. She decides she should too, but seeing the other Stormcloaks converging on them, she can't let him be by himself. She steps in their way and holds her now bare palms out. "Don't hurt him. He didn't do anything. We don't want a fight." The Stormcloak men are tall. Very tall and very well learned in the ways of a fight. If they go for her, she might have no choice but to kill them.
"What the hell are you doing? Help me!" The Stormcloak with his head plastered to the bar yells.
They converge on her. She thought her innocent act would stop them but good luck that's been. She dodges them too, one is manageable, two, is more difficult. Another fist comes her way and she's about to duck. But even with her speed she knows this will be a losing one. She'll surely be clobbered in the face. A hand grabs snatches fist before it makes contact. The guy yells.
"Never knew mortals could make animal sounds." Vorstag says behind her. He shoves the guy away from him and grabs Serana the collar of her cloak. Her hood is down but she guesses that isn't a problem. They aren't hiding their faces anymore since the Dark Brotherhood is gone from these parts. And the sun is down…
"Hey!" She exclaims when he pushes through the crowd, leaving the hurting Stormcloaks behind, all with his hand dragging her by the collar.
"I'm not some sort of dog!" She complains when he has her feet on the ground. He kicks the door open to get them outside. An older man, no doubt drunk and still drinking, rises from his relaxed posture. He hollers and holds his drink up to the two of them. "Thanks." Vorstag says. No doubt with a winning smile. Serana just struggles in his hands. What kind of vampire was she to let this one push her around?
"Let me go!" She struggles from his hold. He drops her before she can get a good enough hold to kick him. They're on the other side of the street, near some closed shops for the day. She's just happy they at least had some privacy.
"Volkihar, what have I told you about bar fights?" Vorstag holds up a hand, showing one finger. "One, don't intervene." Another finger, "Two, don't start them."
Serana balls her fists. "I wasn't the one who picked one."
"Oh, was I supposed to fight you?" He raises a brow. She pauses, noticing his hair is ruffled. She guesses he wasn't joking about that. "What? Something in my hair?" He brushes his hand over the length of it. She can't stop staring.
"I," She pauses, "No. Sorry. I just don't like books being pulled out of my hands like that. They're fragile and expensive."
Vorstag crosses his arms and leans against the brick of the building they're near. "I'll buy you a new one. I have an ever-growing pile of septims from my recent fights."
Serana shakes her head, "No, don't use your money. Just don't…pull them away from me and I won't have to buy any new ones in the first place." She moves to head back to the bar. There isn't much else to say here. She might just go lie down and wait for sleep to take her.
"Hey." He grabs her arm. She doesn't want to turn around and have to face him. He's too pretty in this moonlight. Too arrogant and too annoying to handle right now. "Are you hurt? Did you get hit at all?"
"Nope, I'm still shiny and new." She tries to relax.
"I'm sorry about the book. I didn't mean to joke…it's just that you seem so pensive these past few days. I wanted to lighten the mood." He says without a hint of his usual sarcasm.
"I understand. It's hard seeing the castle like this. I don't have good memories there, but I had good things there."
"They can be replaced." He tries for.
She shrugs, "Yes, but they won't be the same. Those things were collected over centuries. If I can find copies there's no way they'll be the same as they once were."
She has to look back at him. He was silent for too long. "You'll find them. Even if they've changed, I know you'll be able to complete your collection. Life isn't really about material items, anyways."
She starts, "Yes, but these are artifacts almost. Treasures. Things I want to keep."
"Get new ones. Don't get so attached." He seems to shrug.
He doesn't understand. Truly. He never had his old home burn down. Some of those things were invaluable. She'll never get them back. And furthermore, she has no idea where the portal is. "I might turn in for the night." She says before he could ruffle her feathers further.
"Alright, Volkihar. I'll go play around in the bar some more." He walks with her, trying to get ahead of he to hold the door open. It was so annoying sometimes. Like she had this constant shadow. "We'll look for clues about the portal tomorrow. I'll ask around. I know we'll find where your mother is."
She pulls her hood up. She needs some time alone time now, desperately. She just wants to go get through the crowd and up to her temporary room to curl up in the covers with her book. "I know."
He doesn't take offense. Just holds the door for her. He smiles, "Let me know how Lusty Argonian Maid is, but don't tell me the ending. I don't want it spoiled."
She gives him a light jab with her elbow before entering the bar. "Maybe."
Upstairs, in her nice and warming bed, Serana was reading quickly. She was almost to the best part. The maid was finally in the chambers. Finally picking up on what Crantius Colto was insinuating this whole time. Then she hears it. Something tapping on the window. She pauses, her hand just about to turn the page. This is abnormal for her. People don't climb up a story to go knock on someone's window. It's definitely going to be some sort of immortal.
She puts the book away under the covers so it can't be seen. Vorstag told her to get him if anything weird happened. That means she should race downstairs to bring him up here. But truth be told, she was tired of that act. She's tired of feeling defenseless, like some poor maiden who can't help but fall at the drop of a hat. She knows she was locked away for so long, but she was never that weak before, and she wouldn't allow to be treated that way further. She readies an ice spike and slowly walks to the window.
The tapping is short and frequent. It doesn't stop or increase in pace. Just someone trying to break in. Her hand curls around the strange velvet curtains. The thing is so close, she's not sure if she would rather look through the window now or sneak around the back to check. Without much forethought, she snaps back the curtains and nearly yelps with what she sees. She never thought she'd see this person again. Not in this lifetime.
The mercenary was a smash hit. Playing every song born on this side of Skyrim, to those lesser-known gems performed across Tamriel. Everyone was salivating over it. Vorstag now had a group of probably over fifty people cheering him on. They all had good drink and food, so he was happy to oblige them. It was the least he could do after so much hardship here.
The snowy haired bard, Lisette, was also making her rounds. This was a wonderful surprise. Usually, she would croon every night to ten or so people. She always made good tips. Vorstag had worried her spirits would fall after the Stormcloaks took over. He feared she would be out on the streets begging, since he had seen her in that state once before, but that wasn't the case.
She was on fire. The girl made sure to go to every table, make eye contact with every stranger who crossed her path, even took a drink or two at patron's insistence. Vorstag has never seen her like this. Guests cheer loudly when she finished her final song for the night. There were soon demands for more. But closing time was coming soon.
You could feel it in the air, such a tension, the bartender, bards, and servants were busy assisting costumers with fake smiles plastered on their faces. They would nod and accept whatever came their way as long as they could get people out the door before three am. Sometimes, people were drunk enough, as Vorstag remembers from the Silver-Blood Inn, that all they needed was a little push to get them going. Other nights, it was liking moving a large boulder uphill.
He thought he might make himself useful, so the new vampire helped Sorex clean down some nearby tables. A sure sign to the groggy and cloudy headed patrons it was almost time to leave. The gruff Imperial, stone cold sober for once, was leaning over the table, right in the faces of two very inebriated and disgruntled Stormcloak men when he jerked his chin out to Vorstag.
"I don't like that over there." He mentions under his breath.
Vorstag has incredible hearing now, and the server knew it. So Vorstag follows his line of sight. At the other end of the bar Lisette was getting roped into something certainly shady by a group of men and one solitary noble woman. She was of great stature, dark hair pulled back severely from her head in a conservative style. Noble clothing that didn't show a lick of skin aside from her delicate neck. The older Imperial woman made her middle age look beautiful, yet taxing. Her expression was one of determination and slight stress.
"I'll go handle it." Vorstag says, he tries to keep up a chipper tone as not to alert the others there might be another fight on hand. He certainly didn't want to make that assumption too soon. Instead, he wades through the throng of people. Most are deciding which way to go for the night. Either in a room upstairs, or back out onto the streets.
"Come now, dear. You would love it. I know it. A girl like you must get around a lot here. But you've never had anyone like me before." The noble woman purrs at Lisette. This doesn't shock Vorstag, he knew Lisette to have many lovers over the years. Anyone from muscular woodsmen to the most delicate and lovely of women. She had good taste and made sure to keep herself out of trouble in these woods. There were too many people who liked to prey on those in these situations and Lisette was always smart about it.
That is, until tonight. Lisette seems cornered. Shocked into silence. Vorstag supposes it's because of what this woman is insinuating. Lisette glances around at each face in her entourage.
"It's not a hard decision…" The woman purrs.
Vorstag wraps a firm arm around Lisette's shoulders. She leans into him. He can feel her relief from here. "Any trouble over here? Trying to get a room for the night? Might be good to grab one in the next few minutes before closing." He flashes a bright smile to the woman. She looks utterly displeased.
"I do want a room for the night, actually." She smiles as her eyes lock on Lisette. "Is this your pretty girl?"
Vorstag was jarred by her boldness, this kind of prodding was usually done by older and wealthier men who had too much time on their hands. Not a beautiful noble woman. But after the year he's had, Vorstag thinks it might be time to stop leaning on such stereotypes. "Some nights, yes, some not so much. Tonight, she is though."
The woman pushes on, "Might I be able to borrow her for the evening? She's got the loveliest of voices, I would just love her company for a few more hours."
Vorstag stopped paying attention to her. He glances around at the other men. All Nords, all dressed in high quality armor, yet all of them still had all their weapons on them, not just short swords that would be potentially necessary for a bar. They all carried large pouches. Not things a noble woman's people would carrying in a party atmosphere.
"I'll distract them. Just leave and come back tomorrow, I'll tell Corpulus you had to go early." He whispers in the woman's ear.
She stands where she is. Vorstag clenches his jaw at this. She was almost as stubborn as his vampire upstairs. Which, he should go check on her soon. He worried about her mood, especially after witnessing for herself the Volkihar castle in such disarray. That's not something one gets over easily.
"It's fine." She says.
"Just go." He urges again.
"I tell you what, you have a lovely face and build as well," The woman looks him head to toe with the oddest of expressions, it's the kind of leer he sees some men make all the time at Silver-Blood Inn. "Come to the room with us. We will have so much fun." She smiles.
Her tone is mocking. Vorstag can almost certainly tell she wants nothing to do with their bodies. The question is whether she wants to steal from them, or to kill them. "It's closing time and it sounds like all the rooms have been taken." He says breezily.
Her eyes become focused. More heated. He knows what's about to happen. "I won't take no for an answer."
"It's all you're going to get." Vorstag says, immediately. He was watching the men off to the side out of the corner of his eye. Some were fiddling with the hilts of their swords. He was ready to push Lisette behind him and fight in whatever way necessary.
Instead, the woman stands. She's only about five foot four, so she won't intimidate Vorstag with height in any way. She can still glare though. "I will take my leave for the night. Think on my offer." She waltzes out of the bar without a care in the world.
"Are you alright?" Vorstag turns to Lisette when they're far enough away to keep from hearing.
"I am, I wasn't sure what she wanted, then she asked that…I…I don't think she meant what she said. She wanted her guards in the room with us the whole time."
Vorstag glances over his shoulder at their receding forms. "I've heard since the Stormcloaks have taken over here, there's been Imperials and others trying to meddle with them. It struck me as odd that she was the only Imperial in the group. The rest were Nords."
"You think she was going to have them kill us and frame it on the Nords?"
Vorstag shrugs. "I've heard worse things to gain political power. I just don't understand why she thought bedding you was the best angle to get you alone."
Now, Lisette has a sheepish look on her face. "Well, truth be told, I was looking at her a bit when I was playing. I thought she was pretty. But trust me, if I knew what kind of offer, she'd give I wouldn't have even batted an eye."
"Hm, that must be why…" Vorstag trails off. He feels something else in the air and it certainly wasn't drunk people trying to find out where to pass out for the night.
"What is it?"
"I need to go." Vorstag brushes past her. "Tell Corpulus or Sorex if you see them again. And try not to be anywhere alone the next few nights."
Lisette has nothing else to say. If she does, he doesn't hear it. He races through the crowd to get upstairs. He knows it's coming from her room, by Mara, why didn't he keep a better eye on her?
Her room is the first to the left, and the door is thankfully unlocked. He shoves it open.
Vorstag didn't really realize how worried he was until he feels his hand shaking. It was itching to pull out his blade. On the other side of the room, sitting under the windowsill is Serana. She seems dazed but a quick look over her shows no blood or injury.
He moves across the room slowly and pulls the window down first. Then, he kneels next to the vampire. "Volkihar, what's gotten into your head? Did someone come in here?" He asks gently.
Her eyes find his and sure enough they're terrified. "Yeah, just someone trying to get in. Nothing I couldn't handle."
Vorstag laughs softly, if only to calm her, "Were you hurt? Do you know who it was? I heard Imperials are sneaking around this area."
She blinks slowly. "Yeah, yeah it was one of those I think. And I'm fine. More tired than anything."
He breathes a sigh of relief. She's safe. Although, her posture is still rigid. He's seen many people over the years freeze up like this in a fight. She was a good fighter, but he supposes after so long underground, her skills are rusty. "Want me to stay here for the night? I just finished helping the bar close."
Usually, the past few months, she's said no to him. She would rather sleep by herself. Instead, she slowly blinks at him with those pretty eyes. "Would you? We don't have to share the bed."
Vorstag was prepared for this, he gives her a glowing smile and pats one of the long couches alongside the opposing wall. "There's a reason I had you put up in the larger room. I'll take this couch here."
"It's hard as a rock." She mentions offhandedly.
He laughs, "All the better. Remember, Volkihar, I'm a mercenary. I'm used to sleeping in odd places."
Serana couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. She stayed awake the whole time, especially when Vorstag began to snore. She just trained her eyes on the now closed window. She still shivers from that breeze, and her hollow eyes.
She thought Helsta was dead. Father's former blacksmith no doubt died after the Dragonborn infiltrated the castle. She was sure of it. She had no idea that anyone would have escaped. But based on her decaying state, she might have been brought back from the dead.
Serana shivers further as she thinks on what Helsta told her. Father had far more tricks up his sleeve than Serana thought possible. Before she was brought out from her underground tomb, she now knows that father gave away her hand in marriage. He arranged her marriage. She was betrothed.
She remembers Helsta's strong gaze, filled with fire as she glared at Serana through the window. Serana had an ice spike ready to impale Helsta in case she was after her for revenge.
"Don't. Don't kill me. I have a message." Her voice was mangled in death. Serana guessed that's what happens after decaying for long before revival.
"Go on, I'm listening but I won't be for long." Serana said sharply.
Helsta pulled herself further into the window, her very long nails scraped the sides of it, slicing into the wood. "I'm here…to save you…Harkon arranged your marriage. He told us that you would be married after the Tyranny of the Sun was completed."
Serana's heart kicked into in overdrive. Everything, the bar sounds down below, her book lost in the covers, even Helsta herself was slipping away. She sternly shook her head and told herself to focus. She could get out of this.
"Who? Who did father give me to?"
"Mann…Mann…" Helsta was struggling. Whatever spell brought her back to life was starting to fade. Serana quickly switches her ice spike to a necromancy spell, a basic zombie spell. If she has to, she'll bring Helsta back from the dead again to get this answer, no matter how fickle it will be. However, it's much, much harder to reanimate the dead after they've already been animated once before.
"Who is it?" Serana prodded again, but with a softer voice.
"Mannimarco." The former vampire spit out, then her flaming eyes went rolling and she fell backwards from the window. Serana heard her hit the ground seconds later, but she didn't register it.
Mannimarco, the Worm King. Serana heard his whispers before she was locked away. She thought he would be dead by now. He was an Altmer necromancer from the Summerset Isles, a very dangerous person from what she heard. And very, very powerful from the sound of it. If he was after her, then they had more troubles than just finding her mother.
Speaking of, Serana keeps her eyes on the window as her mind runs. Mother probably brought Helsta back to life. If it was anyone associated with Mannimarco, they would not have warned her. This is more reason to get to her mother as soon as possible. If the necromancer found out their plans…knew that her mother might have known and warned her…his wrath might just kill them.
Serana shivers again. She felt terrible not telling all this to Vostag but, based on how brash and protective he's been of her in the past few months, she decides she wants to get more information before telling him everything. He just might lock her up again to keep her safe.
She shifts in her bed to stare at his face. He's snoring softly, his mouth agape. It should be funny. It is. She just wonders if he would be able to take on what's coming for them. In her bleak days, which came far too often, she sometimes found him fun to be around. She admires his strength and moral compass. Although, becoming a vampire might have been the worst thing for him. He seemed to be a sun worshiper in his mortal life, based on how tan his skin used to be. He was annoyingly energetic. Always willing to help anyone in need. And Serana saw how far that attempt to save everyone would go.
No, she was right to keep that information from him. If she told him, his good heart would stop at nothing to keep her safe.
"Staring again, Volkihar? I'd say you wouldn't be able to see me in this light, but how wrong I am about vampire sight." Vorstag yawns.
Serana smiles slightly. "Want to use the bed? I'm about to head out." She rises and shakes the covers to find her book that was hidden in them.
He gives her a look of confusion and moves his position for a better one. "Why? I'm quite comfortable here. Where are you going?"
"To get a new book." She quirks and eyebrow and holds The Lusty Argonian Maid above the covers. "I finished this one."
It works, the man breaks into laugher, "About time! I've been wanting to read it since I first saw you had it!"
"Here, take it." She throws the book on her bed. "And sleep here, it can't be comfortable there. I'm going shopping and I'll be back soon."
Vorstag seems confused but he soon moves to the bed and makes a bit of fuss on how she bent some of the pages. Serana just smiles to herself as she dresses in a long cloak and elbow length black gloves.
"And this part! Did you earmark all the best parts?" He's now lounging in the bed, comfortable as ever and turning pages quickly. "This?" he points to a page, "This?" he points to another one.
"I didn't but feel free to." She ignores the rest of his bickering, now thinking it might be nice to have a few hours away.
"Don't tell me you're going far. Watch out for the Imperials, especially one with a crowd of Nords around her." He warns sternly.
"That was oddly specific, but I'll be fine." She opens the door and gives him one last longing look. "Have fun with that."
He grins, "Can't wait to dive in."
She shuts the door, but not before hearing a distinct thump on the nearby nightstand. Soon, Vorstag is snoring softly again. She figures the bed was a good idea. Anything to get him to sleep more soundly and not follow her like a second shadow. He won't like what she's going to find. Any research she can get her hands on will be worth it, as long as the books are still around here. She's not sure if they were burned in the Stormcloak siege. But she'll read whatever she can find. The more knowledge she has on Mannimarco, and his current whereabouts, the better.