Blood Moon Rising part 4

-Volkihar Ruins-

While Serana had a few last words with Aela, a door opened in the ruined passages and hallways of Castle Volkihar. The dark corridors offered hardly any place for light, and it seemed like an eternal night had fallen in this place. Large piles of rubble and debris littered the paths and hallways while lonely skeletons wandered around, making the clinking sound of bone on bone. Amidst them walked a tall, dark and hooded figure. His face was invisible in the darkness and the only sounds that came from him were his footsteps and the slight rustling of his cloak over the broken stairs and rubble. He seemed to be nothing but a ghost, a dark phantom and a presence that would terrify any man. The skeletons noticed him, but before they could even raise their axes at him, they would fall to pieces by even his simplest spells. He could hardly see a thing, yet he had no trouble walking over the stones and finding the right path.

A thundering roar echoed through the corridors and a large gargoyle jumped up, as his stony skin suddenly transformed. It roared at the stranger, but there was a flash of light and the beast was incinerated to ashes. The stranger had hardly blinked at his opponent and now continued his journey past a ruined statue.

After a few small corridors and a winding staircase, the man found himself in front of a door. He recognized the door from his last visit. It was a Blood Door which would only open through the blood of the one that made it. The man knew he could not get past it, as he did not possess the right blood, but he saw that the door was ajar, and he pushed it open and entered the massive laboratory behind it.

It was still in the same state as the last time Tarrion saw it, when he came here with Serana to find Valerica, Serana's mother. He remembered how he was astonished by the size of it, as not even the College of Winterhold had a laboratory this expansive.

It had two areas, one of which was elevated and could be reached by a set of stairs at the far end of the laboratory. The lower area was wide and had several large tables filled with ingredients beyond count, ranging from simple mountain flowers to the extremely rare crimson nirnroots. From the hives of bees to even the bones and scales of Dragons. The walls were covered with dozens of bookshelves filled with countless books. The upper area had a large alchemy setup and a large Arcane Enchanter, and there were more bookshelves and tables with more ingredients. In the days of its use, this laboratory must have been greater and better than any other that existed. But it has been centuries since it was last used, and now it was covered with cobwebs and a thick layer of dust. The books were ruined and torn or completely illegible, while most of the ingredients had turned to dust.

The only thing strange about this laboratory was the massive portal in the middle of it, which could be entered via a staircase of floating, broken stones that reached to the elevated area. From the massive portal, blue flames spewed endlessly, and as Tarrion walked past it, it sounded like soft echoes of cries came from it.

When Tarrion reached the top of the stairs that lead into the portal he looked down into the blue flames. He remembered the first time he tried to enter it, and how the flames tried to drain him of his life. But now, as he slowly neared the portal, the flames did not harm him. They almost seemed to welcome him back, a feeling that was a bit unsettling.

Tarrion waited before he took the last step. He had come all this way, and yet he still had no answer to the question he had at the beginning of the journey. What would he tell her, and how would he tell it? He stared into the blue abyss before him and took a deep breath. He knew that beyond it was the undead realm of the Soul Cairn, a realm that was dreadful, disgusting and a true horror for all who dwell there. But he knew he came this far to go on, and after he closed his eyes, he stepped through.

-Hjaalmarch-

Serana was lost in thought again. She had said goodbye to Aela and now returned to the road that would lead to Morthal. She knew that it would be a long journey, at least a full day, and with a bit of luck she would reach it around midnight. The roads were mostly empty, save for a lone fox or a lost traveller or the rare courier. The rain from the previous day had stopped, but the clouds had not dispersed, and a thick and threatening gloom hung over the large forests to the southwest of Morthal. Serana did not mind the clouds. She was happy that there were any, as they would block the painful rays of the sun, and ease her journey.

She was thinking about everything now, as the last stretch of her journey lay before her. She thought about her past, about the way she became a Vampire, about what it had done to her family, about what it had done to her personally, about the things she had done, about the things she couldn't do and about the things she wanted to do. She thought about what her Vampirism had done for her, about the powers she could use, about how strong she was, about how much she had survived because of her blood, about the great things she had done, about the countless years of experience she had, about everything she could still do, about the warmth she felt every time she embraced Tarrion and about everything she had been through with him. She thought about it until her head hurt.

The miles slowly passed underneath her, and the sun slowly climbed up to its peak, and then back down again. She passed small side paths that lead into the mountains, and paths that lead down to the north. She passed small patrols which she ignored, she passed a small hunters encampment while there was no sign of the hunters.

After many miles of riding, and she knew that it was already past midnight, she saw Morthal lying in the distance. It lay below her and she saw only a few houses from where she was. But she finally was able to see her destination and it gave her a bit of strength, yet she felt like she hadn't slept in days. She only urged her horse more and after a short while, she saw a road leading down the mountainside. Below she saw wooden gates and past that, she saw many gloomy houses standing.

She now slowly approached the gate and she saw a guard looking at her. She kept her hood on and tried to keep her eyes hidden.

"Who goes there?" the guard asked.

"I am looking for a man named Falion." Serana said.

The guard waited a few moments before he answered. "What is your business with him?"

"I… I need his help."

"What kind of help?"

"It is a… private matter." Serana said, and she felt how she could hardly say anything else. "Very private…. Please…. I need his help."

The guard did not seem to trust her, but after a while he decided to open the gate. Serana thanked him and left her horse at a small inn. She saw how almost all of the houses were built on high wooden supports, above the swampy ground. Morthal was build half in the swamp, and half on the mountain slopes. The Jarl's Longhouse was built with a stone foundation on the rocky ground, while half of the town was built above the ponds and rivers where small piers lead to the doors. She saw a small alchemist shop standing in the middle of the town, but the rest of the town seemed eerily quiet. There were not many houses, a small two dozen of them, and one stood a bit further apart from all the others. Serana looked around, trying to see if she could find out which house Falion would live in, but almost all of the houses looked the same, and thus she decided to go to the inn and ask around there.

The inn was mostly empty, which was not strange since it was in the middle of the night, yet the innkeeper seemed to be awake.

"Ah, finally. Someone comes in after all. Kick off your boots and sit by the fire." she said.

Serana walked toward her and saw that she was Redguard, as she had a dark skin and dark hair.

"I'm sorry for walking in at this hour…" she started, but the innkeeper waved it away.

"Don't be. I'm happy I get a customer at all, no matter the hour on which they arrive. What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a man named Falion." Serana said. "I heard he lived here in Morthal. Do you know where I can find him?"

The innkeeper furrowed her brow as she looked at Serana. She still had her hood on and refused to show her face. "I might… but what do you want with him?"

"Please…" Serana asked. "It's important. I need his help."

The innkeeper showed the same hesitation as the guard at the gate and she furrowed her brow.

"You are not planning on harassing him like everyone else here? Are you?"

"No, not at all. I just need his help."

"Hmmm….. very well then. He lives at the far side of town. The house that is a bit further away from the others."

Serana sighed. "Thank you. I also have a horse that needs some food. Will this be enough?" and she placed the pouch on the counter.

The innkeeper looked at the pouch with money and nodded.

"This is more than enough, but you shouldn't bother my brother right now. I'll prepare a room for you."

But Serana refused and she said that it was urgent. Before the innkeeper could react Serana left and headed for the far side of town.

The house was indeed a bit further away from all the others, like there was something wrong with it, and a small, broken pier lead to it. The house itself seemed quite normal, and Serana walked up to the door, but then stopped. She knew that once she knocked there was no going back. She knew that she would have to explain what she wanted, and what she felt, and that a complete stranger would give her advice. She had no idea who this Falion was or how he would react, and she had no idea if he even could help her.

She stayed there for a few moments, considering…. Thinking….. struggling, until she took the leap.

She knocked thrice, and she heard a bit of rummaging in the house, and somebody walked to the door.

-Soul Cairn-

The air, the ground, it was all wrong. Just like during his previous visit, Tarrion saw that the ground was black with death and decay, and the skies seemed to be an unholy reflection of Sovngarde. All around him he saw the black buildings and ruined fortresses, all of which looked deserted and abandoned. But he knew they were not. Wandering around he saw the lost souls that were trapped in this place forever. Some of them walked blindly, others were screaming while no sound came from their mouths, and more others simply sat on the ground, too afraid or defeated to even try anything.

Here and there Tarrion saw beasts and skeletons wandering around. The beasts were unlike any that walked on Tamriel, some of them with multiple heads or with horns sticking out their bodies. They all seemed to walk around aimlessly, but Tarrion knew otherwise. They were charged with gathering the souls and keeping unwanted visitors away from the crystals that floated above the larger buildings.

Tarrion payed no attention to these beasts, or the souls that wandered around. He followed an uneven path that lead past ruins to a massive fortress. The ruins of a broken tower lay quietly in front of the steps that lead to the main gate, and as Tarrion climbed the steps, he heard a slight sound. The invisible barrier that had held them back last time was now gone, as Tarrion had destroyed the keepers that constructed it, and he walked between the large, black pillars that held up massive towers and defences. In a small corner, he saw a small light burning, and next to a heap of ruined books, he saw the woman he was looking for.

She still looked exactly the same as before, with her deep, pitch black hair, pale Vampire skin and glowing eyes. Her robes were still old, but not torn, and were as black as her hair. Her face was handsome, with well-defined cheeks, a straight nose and full lips. She looked like she was a noble or royalty, which was not untrue. When she looked up and saw Tarrion, her eyes opened wide in both shock and surprise. Not even the skeletons and beasts would come near the fortress, and the souls stayed far away from it. But now she saw a man standing in front of her and she recognized him.

"You?"

She saw how he nodded and took a small step forward. She stared at him, with suspicion in her eyes. She never thought she would see a soul again. Well, beside the ones that were already dead.

"You appear to have something on your mind…. What is it?"

"I have come to tell you that Harkon is dead." Tarrion said. His voice was calm, and he waited for Valerica's response. He was not sure how she would react. He knew that she wanted Harkon to fail, and that she no longer loved him. But at the same time, he also knew that they were husband and wife, and that they loved each other a long time ago. Half of him expected her to shed a few tears, and the other half imagined her to be relieved, but he was not quite sure what would be better.

"What?!" Valerica asked, and her face changed to even more shock. "Are…. Are you certain."

"Yes."

Valerica stumbled backwards and held herself up against the wall. She walked toward the small alembic that she used for her alchemy and stared at the wall.

"Harkon is dead….." she whispered to herself. "….He is dead….."

When she turned around Tarrion saw a smile of relief on her face and she sighed. She felt like the weight of the world had just fallen off her shoulders, and the relief she felt was the first real emotion she had in a long time.

"Then I see nothing preventing my return to Tamriel… Allow me to gather some of my things and I'll join you."

She sighed again and closed her eyes. "And from the bottom of my heart… I thank you."

Tarrion nodded and waited for her by the top of the stairs. He felt a combination of disgust and pity for her. She was relieved and grateful that her husband was finally killed. He wondered what kind of woman would ever want her husband dead, but he decided he did not want to know. At the same time, he also knew what Harkon had been, and how she had been treated by him. He knew that the relationship between the two had soured a long time ago, and that neither of them felt any love for the other, and Tarrion felt sorry for them.

It did not take long before Valerica was ready. She carried a small pack filled with some ingredients and they left the ruined fortress together. Tarrion seemed focused on the end of his journey, and kept his eyes on the path. But Valerica seemed different. Her steps were light and filled with energy. She was finally able to leave this dreaded place and she was finally free of her loveless marriage to Harkon. She smiled all the way, despite Tarrion not saying a word to her. It was only when they reached the steps to the portal that Valerica stopped and her smile faded.

"Wait."

Tarrion turned around, and saw how she looked with distrust at the portal above them. "What is it?"

"I... I am not so sure about this."

"I thought you wanted to return?"

Valerica still looked at the portal. "And I still do, but I am not sure if I will survive walking right through."

Tarrion did not understand, but then she explained. "I have been here for many centuries, but… No matter where I go, or for how long I stay away, my insatiable hunger remains. Hunger for blood. In here, in this place of death, I can be killed, but I cannot die of starvation. I fear that all those centuries without feeding will weigh down on me as soon as I step back to the mortal world….. I don't think I will survive that."

"Then what would you have me do about it?"

Valerica looked at him, and in her eyes was a similar gaze that Serana had, except this one was a more unsettling hunger. It was as if she wanted and needed his blood, rather than asked for it. Tarrion had no intention of feeding Valerica, and she seemed to guess his thoughts.

"It is either your blood, or you find someone else. But I have a feeling you won't submit another to me, even if it is a bandit."

Her voice was calm can calculated, like she gave him two options while she knew he could only pick one. She smiled at him when she saw his eyes flash at her, and she knew that he indeed would not bring another to her.

"Don't worry about it." she said as she stood next to him, and her voice sounded almost seductively. "It won't hurt a bit."

But Tarrion stepped backwards. "You lay one finger on me, and I will not hesitate to kill you. You are mistaken if you think that I care for you…. But very well. If you have a small flask in your pack I will fill that."

"Hmm… I'd rather take it straight from the source."

"But you won't get it." Tarrion said sternly, and Valerica saw that she could not win it. She pulled a small flask from her pack and Tarrion made a small cut in his arm and filled it with his blood. Valerica stared at his arm and he noticed the hunger in her eyes, and it made him feel uncomfortable.

When he gave the flask to Valerica she immediately grabbed it and drank the contents to the last drop. She licked her lips clean and closed her eyes, when she gulped the last bit down. The taste of his blood was warm and she felt a few centuries younger because of it.

"Aaahh…. The blood of the Dragon, glorious."

Tarrion looked at her in surprise and she raised an eyebrow at him. "You think I did not know? Please, I know more about you than you think…" and she grinned at him. "Now, shall we?"

And Tarrion stepped after her through the portal, back to Tamriel.

"Ah, it's good to be home again."

They arrived back into Valerica's laboratory, and Tarrion felt the strong urge to leave as soon as possible. Valerica walked back to the elevated area and looked around, when her smile disappeared.

"Where is Serana?" she asked. "I thought she would be waiting for us back here?"

Tarrion said nothing to her but walked past her. With lightning fast movements she grabbed his arm in an icy grip and looked him in his eyes. He saw her eyes flare at him.

"Where is my daughter?"

"Serana is fine. But she is not here." Tarrion said and he pulled his arm from her grip.

"Where is she then?" and her voice was still cold and angry.

"She is on an errand of her own."

"What kind of errand?"

"An errand of her own." Tarrion said, and his voice sounded definitive. "I will not tell you. This is a matter close to her and not even I know what will happen to her."

Valerica was clearly not satisfied with this answer, but when Tarrion refused to say anything more, she straightened her back and looked him in his eyes.

"If anything happens to her.. anything at all.. I will make you regret the day you met her."

Tarrion scoffed at her. "You should know that your threats mean very little to me. An you are a fool if you think I will let any harm come to her. The only reason why I came for you is because I care about Serana. I did this for her, not for you."

Tarrion now only wanted to leave, and it seemed Valerica also wanted him to go. And so Tarrion left the elevated area and walked past the portal, but there he changed his mind.

"Before I go, I have to ask you one thing." he said, and Valerica looked down on him from atop the stairs.

"Why have you never pursued that prophecy? Why not plunge the world in eternal darkness?"

Valerica sighed, and for a moment Tarrion could see an old pain on her face. "I have no idea how many times I tried to convince Harkon of this. If the prophecy came to fruition, and the sun would be blotted out, there are many in the world who would not stand for it. The world is now mostly divided by petty wars and distrust for others, and that is the way it has always been. But if an event like the loss of the sun would come to pass… the entire world would join forces against the Vampire, in an effort to turn things back to normal."

She looked at Tarrion and her eyes suddenly reflected her age. All those centuries of knowledge, experiences and things she had seen weighed down on her. "You see? The prophecy would draw too much attention to our own kind, and the Order of the Day would become our destruction. They would not stop until every last Vampire is hunted down and killed. That is why I refused to go with Harkon. The Vampire has survived for millennia by staying in the shadows… and that is the only way for us to continue to survive. But why do you ask?"

"Because I want you to remember that." Tarrion said. His voice was still calm, yet a threatening undertone was noticeable. "You can stay here and live your life here…. But do not give me a reason to come back, because if you do…. I will not hesitate."

Valerica gave him a sweet, yet vindictive smile. "You should know that your threats mean very little to me."

"Maybe," Tarrion said as he turned around and walked to the door. "but I hope they are noted."

=End of Chapter=

=Author's Notes=

That is it for part four. I do hope you like it still, and please stay tuned for the next chapter. There will be two more chapters for this arc.

And we reached over 100.000 words for this Fanfic…. Hooraay! :)

Characters:

Innkeep in Morthal: Jonna, Falion's sister.