Chapter Two: Friends and Enemies

4E 202

She had been reading, glancing up as she smelled someone coming and grabbed her half-blade as two Khajiit and a Nord vampire who scented familiar entered, glaring. "Who are you who stinks of that bastard?" she snarled, thinking she had been spotted and the information relayed.

"Aras noe zavas-kei." The white-furred female said in Vamprian, moving into the line of sight and causing her to blink before she continued. "Your brothers send a message."

"And what might that be?"

"Garan and Feran merely told me to tell you that they 'seek your safety' and that you would know what it means."

Aravenu blinked, sitting down on one of the chairs and looking at them, lowering her hood to reveal red hair. "So...he seeks to end the sun..." she eyed the Nord vampire curiously before her gaze swung to include the others, thinking. "I am indeed Aravenu Araleth, and I will warn you now-do not trust Harkon. He will use you for his own gain then get rid of you-that is why I fled." She turned, writing a letter and sealing it. "Take that to my brothers please...I will be leaving to find a safer den."

The Khajiit took the note. "I am Dar'Mora." She replied. "I know of a group that you could go to-head to Fellglow Keep in Whiterun Hold-tell them their white-furred suman sent you for your protection."

The Dunmer stared after them as they left, hearing them talking in low tones before packing up her bag, taking one last look around the cave that had been her home for the past two years, smiling faintly before taking off in another direction. It had been a long time since she hunted properly and so made for the nearest town, slipping into Karthwasten and finding an issue between the owner of the mine and some mercenaries, offering to help them out and following the fools into the mine, watching their movements before slipping forward, taking each out in turn before filling a few bottles with the blood and corking them, murmuring a small spell and putting them in her bag along with their coin and anything she could easily smelt down and carry with her, telling the man they had been dealt with and getting paid before smelting the weapons into ingots and disappearing. "That suited me," she said to herself. "Got some hunting done and helped out people as well." She smirked to herself as she reached Markarth, catching the cart to Whiterun and leaning back. She reached the city and got out, getting a map of the area and consulting it before heading off, keeping her hood up. She glanced up when she got near the Loreius Farm as it began to rain, checking the map one more time before turning and moving over the plains, easily reaching the keep after about another quarter hour and moved the door just enough to slip inside, glancing around. She looked up, jumping out of the way of a fireball. "Stay your attack!" She yelled. "Your white-furred suman sent me!"

There was movement, several figures stepping out of the shadows and eyeing her. "And what was our suman's name?" one hissed.

"Dar'Mora...and Inigo." Aravenu said before bowing. "I am Aravenu Araleth."

"I am Keir," the one who had spoken said. "And this is Zane, Blayze, Lyllith, Zaleria and Layla. Please be welcome."

The Dunmer followed Keir in, feeling shy. "What clans are you from?" she asked

"We come from all over," was the reply. "Dar'Mora saved us from necromancers."

"It's no wonder you call her suman then. A vampire from another clan…"

"Vampire?" Keir was shocked. "I don't know what she's been up to but Dar' was human at the time. She cleaned out the place and we took over." He stopped and looked at Ven. "A Khajiit saw us as people, nothing else. Calling her and Inigo suman was the least of what I can do."

Ven blinked as they reached a room with a bed, wash basin and dresser. "It's not much." He explained, the Dunmer smiling.

"It's fine Keir." She replied. "I've been alone for two years in a crack in the wall."

She sat on the bed, relaxing.

"Since you asked of clans Ven, what one did you escape from? Teethripper is my guess."

The Dunmer gulped; she really wasn't ready to spill and turned away. "Volkihar," She said finally. "I fled from Castle Volkihar two years ago. The leadership thinks me dead." She turned back. "Keir, if this isn't going to work…"

Ven was stopped by the other vampire's hands touching her cheeks. "Aravenu," he said quietly. "First off, breathe. I was once of Volkihar before going off on my own, which is why you saying that didn't faze me. Second, if you think that excludes you, you're wrong. Fellglow is a place where vampires are treated well and can come and go as they wish-within reason of course. Some of us trade trinkets and the like in Whiterun. The original 3 along with myself let Blayze and Layla in, so why would you be different Ven?"

"Living with Harkon," at this he hissed and she gave a look of apology before continuing. "There were rules that I hated. I was 'special' and couldn't go where I wanted when I wanted. To come here and find that this is completely different…"

"'Special'?"

Ven groaned before telling him, Keir's eyes narrowing. "That bastard!" he shouted, causing her to jump in alarm. "Ven?" he asked, seeing her freeze in fear and gently touched her arms. "Ven I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you." He moved her to the bed and laid her down. "For now, rest Aravenu. I can tell you need to sleep."

The Dunmer nodded and fell into the realm of sleep, her body restful.

~Timeskip~

Two months later, Ven sat in the library studying a tome when Layla came in. "Ven, come on." She said. "New prey is here."

The Dunmer headed downstairs, seeing several people on the floor. She walked between them, the other vampires selected theirs, stopping at the last figure. It was a male, with angular cheeks. "Come," she said gently, the others watching her curiously as she went up to her room with the male. "So, how did you get captured?" she asked, looking at him and seeing him scowl at her. "Old bitty caught me up and brought me." He said, allowing her to hear the pleasing accent. "Before that I was on my own. What is my fate?"

In all honesty Ven had to think for a moment. "I need a friend," she said, hearing him scoff. "And a blood source if I need it-to be, as you say, honest. You are not Nord, nor anything I have seen before. What is your race if I may ask?"

"I...wish I knew." Was the reply, Keir entering the room.

"Wanted to get to know him?" He asked, eyeing them.

"Hello Keir," she said. "and yes. Also, the woman that brings them. I know she's providing a service, but just how is she taking them down?"

The vampire looked at her, seeing her raise an eyebrow before swearing. "She caught them asleep." He said finally, seeing the male nod.

"It is sir." Was the reply. "She caught me near Falkreath. Actually better to find myself surrounded by vampires rather than Thalmor, if I am honest."

Ven let her hand glow gold, healing the male easily. "Your name?" she asked.

"You can call me Kai." He said. "Kai Long. Aravenu, I know what you are and what you said, and I respect your rules-within reason. You didn't need to show kindness, yet you did."

"Aravenu Araleth accepts the terms, within reason." Keir replied, getting a sour look from Ven. " My dear, you would have puzzled over that for a while. Embrace it for what it is. Besides, no one else was a match for him, yet I see it in you."

"You n'wah!" the Dunmer said, chuckling. "Welcome to this place Kai Long."

Kai gave a small smile, finding home.

~Timeskip~

4 months had passed, all the other humans earning their fangs save Kai, but that was his choice. Right now, Ven was packing her bag as he came in, watching her. "We're going Kai," she explained. "Where do you want to want to go first?"

He stared. "We can go?" he asked, wondering where he would go before realizing all he wanted was to stay with her. "The Thalmor Embassy. If there's anything of my family it would be there. I heard there was a huge brouhaha there."

"Dar'Mora…" the Dunmer intoned. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Friend of yours?"

"I'd like to think so. At least she only told the people who were worried about me instead of my former lead..." it was then she stopped, actually feeling within her that things were different.

"Ven?" He asked. "Do I need to call Keir?"

"I am here Kai." Keir said as he entered. "You feel it too Ven?"

"Like I'm...free. But that would only happen if he was..." Ven grinned. "They did it...Harkon is dead and with his death, I am free! We both are Keir!"

The vampire smiled before spotting the bag, nodding once. "Remember you are always welcome here Aravenu. May your blood always be fresh."

She put her bag on her back. "Thank you Keir. Nove saas (be safe)." She could see the leaving saddened Keir and set her hand on his cheek. "Thank you my friend,

for showing me what I truly can be."

Ven headed out after a moment, heading outside, Kai stepping out with her and taking a breath. "Are you all right Ven?" he asked. "I thought you and Keir..."

"He thought there was something more there, or began to." Came the reply. "We were both from Volkihar; that was why we both felt it. Maybe there was something more, but I can always return Kai. What's there may be stronger."

Kai nodded, following her down the hill.

(A.N. this is the chapter where we meet Kai, an analog of livtempleton's Kaiden. So a big thanks to him for allowing me to use his character!

Vampiric translations:

Aras noe zavas-kei-we come in peace

Suman-ally)