The door to an empty house opened. It was dark, dank and dusty. The leader raised their hands and cast the candlelight spell. The room was instantly illuminated with bright white light. The house had been abandoned for so long that there were cobwebs and dust littering the rooms. Furniture was laid neatly around the rooms of the house. The group walked around the rooms, inspecting the furniture and the ornaments.
"How much did you pay for this?" asked the leader.
"8,000 gold," replied Ruby.
"That's quite reasonable," said the leader.
"Oh but I had to haggle," said Ruby. She tightened the straps around the bust of her armour.
"Is this how the mortals live?" asked another as they walked around the dusty house.
"No genius," said another. "We have to clean it up first."
She shook her head in disbelief at this ridiculous comment.
"Hey," called a voice from below. "Come look at this."
They all stopped what they were doing and made their way to the basement of the house. The descended the stairs and filed out into the cramped basement. At the end of the room, in a dark corner was a Shrine To Molag Bal. It was in the shape of his head adorned with the horns and fangs he is known to sport on his body. There was a small basin in front of the stone, fanged mouth. A stain that looked chillingly like blood had left s tide mark at the top of the basin.
Ruby pulled out a dagger. She sliced her hand and allowed the blood to drip into the basin. Once the basin was filled, she healed herself. Her hand glowed gold and the wound healed instantly. The building shook, the candles flickered and a voice echoed around the room.
"Speak Mortal," said the voice. It was a cold, booming voice.
"I am not a mortal," replied Ruby. "I, we, are Soul-Squeezers. Daedric Princesses of Oblivion."
Molag Bal cackled.
"You were banished from Oblivion," he said. "To the mortal world."
He cackled insanely once again.
"We wish to return to Oblivion," said the leader cutting in.
"Do you?" asked Molag Bal. "Yes...maybe I can be persuaded, if you can...give me what I want."
"Anything my Lord," said the leader.
"There is a Vampire called Valeria Volkihar. The Daughter of a Daughter of Coldharbour. Bring her to me, then we will talk."
The lights flickered once more. The voice died away and the breeze calmed. They looked at each other.
"Who is this Valeria Volkihar?" asked Ruby.
"She is the second daughter of Serana and Stefan Volkihar," replied the leader.
There was a collective gasp around the group.
"She's going to be very powerful," said another. "It's going to be near impossible to capture her."
"We don't need to capture her," said another. "We just need to find a way to lure her here."
"How do you propose we do that?" asked Ruby
"Those girls are vegetarian Vampires," replied the leader. "If we can convince them one of their kind is in danger, or we are threatening the life of a mortal, they will race to help them."
"Do you know anyone like that?" asked Ruby.
"As a matter of fact I do," replied the leader.
The door to the Lakeview manor opened. Valeria entered the lounge. A quiver of arrows was attached to her right thigh and her bow had been thrown over her back. In her right hand she carried a small piece of paper. She closed the door. Betty bounded up to her and kissed up to her.
"Hi Betty," she said. "Is my sister anywhere?"
"She's in the alchemy lab," replied Betty. "Making some blood potions."
Valeria placed her bow on the weapon rack with her quiver on the floor. She then ascended the stairs and made her way to the alchemy lab. Lucinda was bent over the lab, she looked up as her sister entered.
"I have a decree from the Jarl," said Valeria. "Look at this."
She handed it to Lucinda. Her sister put down her tools and took the letter from her.
"Hagraavens have been spotted at Orphan Rock," read Lucinda out load. "Please investigate and eliminate. These creatures pose an immediate threat to the people of Falkreath and Skyrim."
She lowered the letter.
"It's got to be better than sitting here all day," said Valeria. "What do you say sister, fancy using some Hagraavens for target practice?"
Lucinda smiled. It had been a long time she had swung her sword at something other than a stuffed dummy.
"Sure," she said. "I'll just get my sword."
Valeria smiled at her sister. She allowed her to walk past her. Lucinda crossed the corridor towards the armoury. She picked out her Elven Sword of the Blaze and a scabbard. She strapped the scabbard to her belt and shoved her sword into it.
She returned to Valeria who stood waiting in the alchemy lab.
"Splendid," said Valeria. "Let's go."
Valeria lead her sister down the stairs. She picked up her bow and threw it over her back. She attached her quiver to her right thigh. Together they made their way to the front door. Valeria opened it and stepped out into the weak sunlight. Lucinda followed, closing the door behind her.
Lucinda raised her head up to the sky and took a deep breath. Her nostrils extended as she took a deep swig of the outside air.
"It's been so long since we've been outside," said Lucinda. "I'd forgotten how much the sun burns the skin."
She pulled a hood over her long hair and kept walking. Her sister, Valeria didn't don a hood. It seemed that the sunlight affected her sister, more than her. No one knew why.
The walked together. The trees swayed and rustled as the wind passed through them.
"You think Betty will be alright by herself?" asked Valeria.
"She tore apart a Daedric Werewolf," replied Lucinda. "I think she will be just fine."
They walked in silence once more. The only sounds that could be heard was the rustle of Valeria's armour and the clinking of Lucinda's sword.
Up ahead the calmness had been replaced by a dank mist. It shrouded the area, hindering visibility. It hung heavy over the trees. They turned to look at each other. Valeria pulled an arrow from her quiver and loaded into her drawn bow. The crept carefully into the mist. On the ground, something glowed a sinister blue. Lucinda held out her arm. Valeria collided with it and looked at her.
"Lightning Rune," said Lucinda pointing to it.
Valeria looked down at it. She walked a large berth away from it. They crept silently. A small tent could be seen in front of them. A witch stood over an alchemy table. Valeria pressed her finger to her lips. She raised her bow. She took aim. She fired. The arrow launched itself from the bow. It cleaved through the air. It slammed into the back of the witch's head. She keeled over the table and was motionless.
"Good shot sister," said Lucinda.
"Thanks," said Valeria. She loaded another arrow into her bow and followed her sister up the small hill. Ahead of them was a narrow pass, it was only wide enough for one at a at time. Lucinda stepped in front. She sneaked along the narrow pass, her sister bringing up the rear.
The Hagraven stood over a wooden table. It was littered with all the ingredients to summon dark magic. An Iron Sword sat on the table next to a picking of Nightshade and a Soul Gem. She plucked out one of her feather and placed it on the table. She muttered an incantation. Lucinda raised her hands. Lightning issued from her hands and she threw it at the Hagraven. The creature made a noise of pain as she was hit once again. Valeria stood up. She fired her arrow at the Hagraven. Her arrow slammed into her forehead. Lucinda fired lightning once more. The Hagraven shot across the grass and landed ten feet away.
"Shocking," said Valeria.
Lucinda turned to look at her sister and laughed.
"Let's go collect our reward," said Lucinda.
"Wait," said Valeria. "We need to take one of her feathers as proof of her death."
Lucinda wrinkled her nose at the prospect of plucking out a Hagraven's feathers.
"We don't need to pluck a feather," said Valeria. "Just take that one from the table."
Valeria pointed to it. Lucinda nodded in agreement. She walked over to the table. Valeria stood next to her. Lucinda picked up the feather. Suddenly, a surge of blue light surrounded them. There was a rushing sound and both girls were swept off their feet. The world around them disappeared.