Chapter Twenty-Three

The pair had dropped off the Chalice, Harkon giving them all a task before they were cornered by Garan Marethi and Feran Sadri after leaving the castle, the red-haired male speaking first. "We would ask a favor Dar'Mora," he said, glancing around before continuing. "There is another Dunmer vampire out there-Aravenu Araleth-she disappeared about two years ago-she fled Harkon's madness and we fear he might kill her if he finds her. If you see her-and you'll know it's the right one by the geometric tattoos on her face-simply tell her that 'her brothers seek her safety'-while he lives..."

Dar'Mora nodded, understanding completely. "I know a place I can send her Garan," she replied. "If I see her, I will do so."

She and Inigo moved off with Serana following, the vampiric woman curious about the pair and asking about their friendship, laughing at some of the trouble they had gotten into. They found the Moth Priest in a cave, having to calm him before the white-furred Khajiit turned him into her thrall and set him back to the castle, making a face after he left. "What is it Dar'?" Inigo asked, watching her look over.

"Not good tasting blood...something's just off with it is all." Came the reply, Serana grinning at her words as they went outside and she sniffed the air, catching an odd scent and rushed off, the other two following as she stopped near what looked like a cave and slipped inside, finding herself face-to-face with a Dunmer bearing glowing eyes and purple tattoos that had her fangs bared. "Who are you that stinks of that bastard?" she growled, glaring at Serana as Dar'Mora moved in front of her. "Aras noe zavas-kei." She intoned in vampiric, managing to shock the woman out of her anger, continuing quickly. "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 Araleth 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."

"I am Dar'Mora," came the reply. "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." She took the note and placed it in her pack, turning to Serana. "Hey, are you all right?"

The woman blinked at her. "Give me a little time to think ok?" She asked, the group nodding to the Dunmer and leaving.

"All right Serana-hearing that must have shocked you."

"Yeah..." Serana eyed the white-furred woman, noticing her oddly at peace. "You speak Vamprian well. I'm impressed."

"The group I sent Aravenu to gave me a book about the language so I've been studying." Was the reply. "I got the feeling from those two that she was very important to them for some reason."

They reached the castle, heading inside and listening to the moth priest read the Scroll before Dar' moved off, finding the two Dunmer and glancing around before slipping the letter into Geran's hand as she passed while asking about anything he needed done, hearing mention of a vampire that was causing issues and saying she would take care of it; there were some she had come across that were feral that she had simply cut down and nodded to them before heading back to Serana, following her into the old part of the castle. They came across several death hounds that attacked her along with a vampire whose eyes told her everything; this one was nothing but a slave to her hunger and the most merciful thing the Khajiit could do was end her life, watching the body crumple. The Nord vampire noticed the swiftness that was used. "You ended it fast so she didn't suffer." She said, watching her look over.

"It was the right thing to do-she was suffering and I could see it in her eyes." Dar' sighed as they moved on. "I don't...I mean..."

"You fear falling into that state yourself," Inigo finished for her. "Why do you think I keep on you to drink?" He saw understanding bloom in her eyes and continued. "Exactly-I don't want you losing yourself...nor do I want to lose you."

The reply was a weak smile as they continued, coming out into the garden. The white-furred Khajiit agreed with Serana's words-she could see the beauty of the place even in its current state. She found three odd crests while simply walking around and taking everything in, a look of peace on her face.

"What is with her?" the Nord vampire asked quietly, the blue feline chuckling.

"Give her a few...I haven't seen her this peaceful in quite a while-not since her awakening shortly before we met you. The way I reacted to her other form probably didn't help-I have never feared her yet when she let it out she could see it in my eyes."

Dar'Mora came over to them, her movements seeming lighter to the pair as she twitched one ear and studied the 'moondial', her knowledge of the lunar cycles helping her to know where each went, the whole thing turning to reveal a staircase.

"Very clever, Mother." Serana said, shaking her head. "Very clever." She glanced at the two with her. "I've never been in those tunnels before, but I'd bet they run right under the courtyard and into the tower ruins. Well, at least we're getting closer. Let's go."

They moved through the ruined area, taking down the undead and gargoyles of all things. "Did your mother keep gargoyles here?" The white feline asked curiously, stopping to examine one of the stony creatures.

"My mother had a bit of a thing for magical constructs." Came the reply. "Not... not what you're thinking. She just found them fascinating."

"I actually was not thinking that until you mentioned it." Dar'Mora's face was scrunched up in distaste as there was snickering from Inigo. "And that is not helping Inigo." She shot him a glare that just made him laugh harder, the vampire looking between the two before covering her face, shaking her head.

"That was terrible Dar'," she said as they moved on. "Simply terrible."

The pair chuckled as they reached the top of the tower, staring around them, Serana recognizing the gaze in the white-furred feline's eyes as someone who appreciated alchemy. "You are an alchemist yourself, aren't you? You have that 'what will I get if I mix these together' look." The vampire shook her head. "Mother is going to love you."

The female Khajiit grinned before locating the journal they needed followed by the ingredients, the trio staring in shock as the floor broke apart to make steps. "She did it." Serana breathed. "A gateway into the Soul Cairn..."

Dar' looked at Inigo. "I'll bring you in via Langley's spell ok? From what I'm feeling that might be safest." She watched her friend nod before stepping through, staring at the place before her left hand glowed blue, casting a spell and watching the blue-furred Khajiit appear next to them. "Creepy..." he murmured. "Like a crypt but worse."

The trio moved quickly, Serana asking about the spell and chuckling at the story. "Sounds like a crazy old man." She commented as they reached what looked like a fortress that had a barrier in front of it. "Mother?" She called, a woman appearing and staring at her, glaring at Dar' and questioning her before turning to her daughter and explaining what they needed to do. Valerica eyed the white Khajiit, curious about her and taking a subtle sniff, catching the scent of herbs and chuckling, watching them leave. Between the three of them the keepers were almost too easy and the undead that roamed the cairn soon learned that if they valued what little 'life' they had to stay out of their way, Inigo watching his friend tear through a group of them with her claws and merely turning red eyes at those coming toward her, the undead stopping before moving in the other direction as fast as possible. "That is...impressive." Surana mused.

The white-furred Khajiit eyed her, her face slowly calming. "Thanks Surana." She said after a moment.

The trio went back to Valerica, the vampire looking wary. "Come," she said. "we don't have much time."

They jobbed off, staring at the ancient Dragon who roared at them, Dar'Mora roaring back, shocking her companions. "That is enough!" she yelled, any note of restraint gone and leaving her vampiric side for all to see.

"Qahnaarin." The dragon breathed, climbing down to the level the white-furred Khajiit was. "Stay your weapons please. I would speak to you."

"And why would I?" Dar' asked, her red eyes narrowed slightly as her control came back, calming her further. "I am sorry. I just lost my temper after all the crap I had to go through."

"And I made it worse." The dragon eyed Valerica. "I will meet you outside." He opened his wings and took off, the vampire staring after him before going to where the Scroll was and getting it for them.

"I do not know what to make of that Dar'Mora," she said. "But promise me you will take care of my daughter?"

"I promise Valerica." Was the reply as they headed off.

(A.N. so back in June, I had a stroke, leaving me with one HECK of a writer's block. I'm doing pretty well one-handed and my writing has come back.

Vampiric translations: Aras noe zavas-kei-We come in peace.

Dovah translations: Qahnaarin-vanquisher)