AN:Well, here's the end of the Dragonborn Arc. It is not a happy ending, so... Well, you'll see.
To Guest: Thanks! I always feel bad when I don't update at least semi-regularly. Like I'm abandoning the story. Thanks, too, for the pointing out that the Bard's story has a word issue. I'll check that out as soon as I get the opportunity. As for the day to day of the Empires, that does sound like a good idea. If you have any specific parts of life that you want a look at, just post it in a review and I'll have the characters get involved in that during the next section of the story. It is a great idea given this story gets to have the Dragonborn in the position he is inevitably going to take in real canon.
To Chretner: I'm glad you started 'invading' my other stories! I love that you hate Thera so much. Her drive to get what she wants could be such a good quality, but with her desires its really not. Don't worry, this story has an entire section left before the story of the Two Dragonborn is over. I hope you enjoy the Star Wars stories; I'm not entirely happy with how the second one was going, which is why it's been so long since I've updated it. I have to figure out what I'm doing with it.
Well, enjoy, everybody!
Jul
Lucius
I was greeted b the shining blue skies of northern Solstheim the moment that I stepped through the portal, fresh air and a freezing – refreshingly so – breeze bringing the smell of salty ocean drifting through the air. I turned towards the wind and smiled as a giddy feeling began to pile up in my chest.
I was free.
A single, unsure laugh tore from my throat.
Free. Really free. I... I had actually, finally, really beaten Thera. I felt my legs give out and I fell to my knees before throwing my head up to the sky. Emotion overcame me completely and I began to weep tears of joy for a moment. "Free..." I coughed and rubbed my eyes. Which meant that someone far more important than me was free, too. I pushed myself up to my feet and looked around to see which direction I had to move in order to get back to the Skaal village. I caught sight of it after a few seconds and sprinted. Under my breath, a truly happy smile gracing my features, I said, "Serana... we're free." The thought made my legs and arms feel weightless and the sprint up the hill to the Skaal village like a short jaunt around Riverwood. I stumbled on a rock and nearly fell down, but regained my footing and continued scrabbling up the hill towards my family.
I broke past the first of the Skaal's homes a few moments later and caught sight of her, keeping watch over the still unconscious villagers with our son nearby, playing an old Nordic game with Dorthe to get his mind off of everything going on around him. He had a black sash coiled tightly around his waist like a belt. I stopped where I stood and stared, the regret I felt from having to betray the Skaal overshadowed by this moment. The gazes of all three turned towards me and Serana smiled. She stood up and stepped past the Skaal and into a clear path towards me. I took off towards her just as she began to run towards me, every step bringing us closer and closer yet again. She jumped into my arms and I caught her by the waist, lifting her up before hugging her tight and spinning. She put her put her hands on my shoulders and let them slide softly behind my neck when I lowered her, ever so slowly, back to the ground. "I take it you beat them both?"
I didn't answer, instead opting to lower my mouth to hers. She met them and her grip around my neck tightened. I pulled her closer and breathed in her scent, the scent of the first day of the rest of my life. We would find the cure to her Vampirism together. We'd defeat that headless Dominion together. We'd raise our son. Together. By the Nine Divines... we were together, with a bright summer sun shining in the future. The kiss ended and I hugged her close, burying my face in her hair. When my body shook, her arms tightened around me. Her voice was cracking, too, when she spoke. "L... Last time I saw Cyrodiil, nothing important was there."
"Until we're all there, I don't think much has changed then," I said, words muffled by her hair.
She heard me though and laughed. "Then let's get going." She reached up and pulled my head down for our lips to meet once more.
I grinned and separated from her. "Why do I get the feeling we're going to have a Vampire's sleep schedule?"
She raised a coy eyebrow, but said nothing. She took a few steps and her movement tugged me after her ever so slowly. I let her do it, though I moving my hand until my fingers were interlocked between her own, then tightened my grasp and let contentment flow through me. I had never really noticed how bright the sun was before, and it had been so long since I'd let myself imagine what could come next. It felt nice to know I would be able to leave the world better for the only people that mattered – for my family. I looked over at the Blade, a woman like my niece, and smiled. She smiled back and placed her hands on her hips.
Serana and I stopped near Octavian. He stared up at me with one eyebrow raised, looking far older than five. His gaze turned to Serana and he walked forward, hugging her. "Momma, they aren't going to want us to stay, are they?"
I frowned as the light feeling disappeared and my betrayal hit me full force. Serana looked over at me for a moment before looking down at Octavian and running a hand through his pitch hair. "I don't know, Oct."
His eye appeared, peeking out from the surface of Serana's outfit. "But he did it."
I let go of Serana's hand. "I'm sorry..." My voice was quiet, hollow. I looked towards the All-Maker stone in the distance and finally understood the damage I had done. The stone was cracked in half, a circle of fire dying on the ground surrounding it. The Welkynd was devoid of power, the magickal crackling that should have rolled off of it even from this distance had died out from what my magickal sense could perceive. "The Empire has information dating back thousands of years. A grand library of Magick, Alchemy, history... I will find Welkynd or I will make it." I turned back to my son. "I know I have to make this right."
His eye softened. "Did you say magick?" he asked, a tinge of excitement in his voice.
"He's definitely yours," Dorthe said as she walked up. "Kept asking me about magick while you were gone. Told him you used to be an Archmage and he started acting like a starstruck fan boy for a minute."
"N-nuh uh," Octavian said, suddenly embarrassed like the five year old he was. Under his breath, my son muttered out, "I just said it was cool..."
I smiled softly. "Thank you."
Serana leaned over and gave me a tight hug. "I'll go get everything ready and then we can leave once the Skaal wake up. I... I'd at least try to say goodbye."
I paled at the thought, but nodded. She was right, after all, it was what we should do. It had been so long since I had to confront the results of my betrayals, and longer still since I had actually betrayed anyone. Even with my recent victory I felt... dirty. "Kay." I planted a light kiss on her cheek, wishing it could be longer but comforted that it would not be the last I would have for the next few years. "I'll be here."
She left with a comforting squeeze of my hand. I watched her go for a while before looking down at my son. He was staring up at me with a confused and awestruck look. "Um... Do you know any magic?" I asked, the only thing I could think of that connected me to my son besides his mother.
His face lit up. "I'm the best in the village!" the boy shouted. He raised his hand and aimed it at a clear patch of earth. "Watch! Watch! Watch!" A bolt of blood red energy appeared in his palm and began to slowly congeal. I studied the flow of magicka through my son and bit my cheek. This was Vampire magick. The bolt flew from his hand and collided with the dirt, causing some to shoot upward and create a drifting cloud of earth. "Nobody else but Mama can do that one!"
"I can't do it either," I said before giving my son a smile. Regardless of the magick's origins, it was a difficult one that required much concentration on the part of its user. He had potential, the kind I had at his age. Thankfully, his studies would be far less dangerous than my own had been. I crouched next to him and raised my hand, palm up. "Can you try this one?" It took a few moments, what with the anti-Magicka poison traveling through my bloodstream bright yellow glow began to grow between my fingers before twirling down my arm and swirling around my body. Restoration magick was the one thing that my dear Serana was less than competent in using. Chalk it up to being immortal, but no one's perfect. Besides, most restoration magick was worthless when cast on a Vampire, and I needed to see if the same was the case with our son.
He stared at the glow for a while and reached his hand in, feeling the flow of magick and growing accustomed to the warm feeling that the healing magick sent throughout one's body as it cured ailments and stitched flesh back together. Again, the flow in my body was weaker than usual, and I felt cold compared to the usual comfort. Still, I stopped the flow after a moment and waited for him to try himself. "Here, try this." I took a dagger out and pricked his finger to create a small cut. Oct frowned and stared intently at his hand, casting his memory back to the warmth and trying to drag that same feeling out of himself. It took a few minutes – as any new spell does – but the light eventually appeared in his open palm. The blood stopped its flow and reversed, traveling back into his hand. The small wound sealed shut barely a second later. He stopped channeling the magicka and stared at the place where the wound had been, now healed and completely unscarred. "That was great, Oct. You're really good at this." I grabbed my son's hand and gripped it tight. "I'm going to teach you all the magick I know..." A grin spread over my features. "And I'll introduce you to a dragon." His eyes widened so much I thought they'd explode out of his head.
"Where's Serana?"
I turned and looked up at Dorthe, who was staring intently at the house towards which the Daughter of Coldharbour had walked. I followed her gaze and frowned. "I... She must still be packing," I said, though there was an edge to it. She had lived with the Skaal for years – it was likely that she and Oct had very little to pack. And it had been a few minutes. "I'll go see what's taking her so long." I stood up and glanced down at Oct. "Keep an eye on him for another couple seconds, Dorthe."
"Already on it," Dorthe said, becoming my son's shadow.
I nodded gratefully, then turned and walked towards Serana and Oct's home. My hand rested loosely, but ready, on Dragonbane's handle. "Serana! Serana, what's taking so long?" I called before coming around to the door. Dragonbane came out of its sheathe ever so slightly. "Serana?" I walked through the doorway and froze.
There was no one there.
"Serana? Serana!" I whirled and sprinted out of the building, readying my sword and casting a clairvoyance spell. "Serana!" The blue trail swirled around me. "SERANA!"
I sprinted after the twisting trail, barely noticing that Dorthe had dragged my son towards me to find out what had happened. "Serana!"
"LUC!"
I turned towards the source of the voice. Serana's hands were bound and a dagger was held to her throat. The elven bitch was grinning at her shoulder, hand gripping Serana's arm "Thera? I... I trapped you..."
She laughed. "That bit of theater? You really thought that the God of Knowledge would be satisfied with the outcome of a half finished battle? No. He wants to see a god mantled... and a Daughter of Coldharbour killed."
At that, my mind went blank and enraged. "THERA!" I roared, taking a step towards her. I don't know specifically how she got out of Apocrypha, but I wasn't going to make the mistake of not finishing the job this time!
As my foot hit the ground, so too did a painful feeling explode through my throat. Blood flew from my mouth and trickled down my throat. For a fraction of a moment, everything went black.
Fahiil
Thera
Luc stumbled forward and gurgled, foot lashing out in an attempt to steady himself even as the long tip of the Daedric spear seemed to materialize out of thin air, blade piercing his throat. Blood traveled down the black metal and dripped off the tip. The assassin appeared as if from nothing a moment later, hood casting impenetrable shadows over his features. "LUC!" the woman in my grip shrieked, struggling against the Sunlight Poison – something crafted by my Imperial Alchemists and something I had carried on my person in case I had the chance to claim the Vampire as my property – that kept her from transforming and had made her movements weak for the time being. "LUC, NO!"
"Uh-uh, I'm afraid you won't be able to help him," I said as the figure who had just stabbed my Jokaar began to appear as his blade had. Luc fell to his knees and clutched uselessly at his throat with his left hand. Blood began to pour out of his hand and his wide eyes communicated horror. Delicious horror. Somehow, he kept a grip on the blade in his right hand despite the blood still leaking from his throat. "Sadly, we won't be able to watch his old friend murder him. We're in a bit of a time crunch, you understand?"
"You bitch!" the Vampiress turned, glaring at me with eyes a deep re instead of the usual amber gold. "Let me go! I'm going to kill you!"
"You really aren't good at this whole 'convincing people' thing, are you? Why would I let you go if you want to kill me?" I taunted the woman. I yanked her back into place and tightened my grip until she hissed in pain. I grinned and turned my attention to the gurgling man trying ever so hard to summon the magicka to heal himself – a spell hindered by the poison in his veins. Carrying it around and the Sunlight Poison had been a good deal of preparation, on my part, and I had always known it would be useful. "My only regret is that you will not see me mantle one of the Divines, Lucius. Perhaps I will find whatever ghetto of Aetherius in which human souls reside and show you my power. Or perhaps I will just exterminate your kind completely. I'll have eternity to find out." The light began to channel down his hands. I laughed caustically. "Oh, we both know it isn't going to work, Lucius."
He continued to struggle until the wound stitched poorly shut, a long and painful scar running all the way up from his voice box to his adam's apple. That he was able to heal even that much surprised me. Had my dosage been off? "Let her go and I won't kill you," he growled, voice low and gravelly. He forced himself up and my assassin moved to defend me. I shook my head and he froze, instead turning to glare at the Blade guarding the child. She had yet to move, likely as Lucius would prefer keeping his offspring alive to keeping himself alive.
I yanked back on Serana and snarled. "We both know that's a lie. If you could kill me, you would. Regardless of whether or not I let your little whore go."
He took a threatening step towards me, lightning crackling at his fingertips. "You're right," he admitted, quiet as possible. He raised his hand towards me. "But I'd make it fast if you agreed."
Hm, the poison wasn't doing nearly as well as I had hoped it would. With this much power left it was a better idea to cut my losses and take the other Vampire now. "Hand over the bow. Now," I snapped, bringing the blade closer to her throat until it left a bloody trail. Even better, it allowed more Sunlight poison to burn through her veins.
Lucius froze. "Well, hand it over, then."
He fidgeted uncomfortably. "Where is it?"
He blinked once and opened his mouth. "It's gone. Forever."
I froze and glared at him.
He grinned evilly. "I destroyed it. So let her go unharmed, or I will hunt you down and burn you to ash..."
"Gone forever?" I repeated. He smiled – though he cringed from the pain – and nodded. I continued glaring at him for some time... then I laughed and shook my head, and his grin disappeared. "Gone forever... Can an archmage really be that stupid?"
He snarled and glared angrily at me, "I..." His words fell apart into a fit of coughing.
I cut in before he could recover. "You just gave me everything I needed, you idiot." He recovered and simply narrowed his eyes. "I have the knowledge of a god – of the god of knowledge – at my back now, Insect! Artifacts of gods come and go from this world. Even before I gained this knowledge, I had heard whispers that the Eternal Champion of your Empire used the bow. Until it disappeared and faded from this plane. Which raises the question – how did we find it in Skyrim, more than two hundred years after it was supposed to have been... 'Gone Forever?'"
The Man's face turned even more pale, something I had wondered was possible following the loss of so much blood. "Which means... why am I still here?" I looked towards the assassin. "Reveal yourself. Then kill the boy," I commanded, then I yanked on Serana's bindings and began the Key in my bag burned with energy that dragged me across the world.
I reappeared on the hill of the All-Maker stone near the village, a sudden sick feeling growing in my gut. This isn't Alinor... Tearing across the veil must have drained the Key and - I felt rage bubble up inside and I reached into the pocket where it was sitting to pull it out. The Key was gone... Drained of its power. How unlucky. Unlucky. Maybe there was something to the Nightingales' claim that the Daedra gifted us luck. Still, even without luck I couldn't possibly lose. I grabbed the other Vampire by her throat and shoved her to her knees. "Now, how about we watch from the front row as your lover and your son both die at the hands of an old friend?"
She just remained silent, staring with pleading eyes towards the village.
Jul
Lucius
"Reveal yourself. Then kill the boy," Thera said, a sick and cruel smile spreading across her features. I felt all the blood leave my face and I turned to lunge at the assassin. My son. I couldn't let him die. My blade clashed against the spear, which was held in one hand by the assassin, now looking like a veritable giant looming over me due to the sudden threat. His stature, if I could still think beyond my terror at that moment, was relatively short and rigid. There was a lot of strength behind his body, however, and it was obvious this man was a scarred warrior long before his turning. Dragonbane sparked against the Daedric metal; a biting cold wind tore through the air and it burned against my throat, still raw and full of blood. But I pressed on, fury replacing whatever was left in my veins. If I could have, I would have roared at the creature before me with inhuman rage. It came out a warbled cry.
Dorthe attacked the monster from behind. I didn't cast a glance in my son's direction. I couldn't. If I failed, this Vampire would find him and –
The thought was too terrible to put to words.
The Vampire turned and grabbed Dorthe's wrist before her Akaviri katana could mark him and he twisted, tossing her down the hill. The man ignored her after that and shoved me away, stepping back and twirling his spear around his body before leaving it at the ready across his back, running along his slightly outstretched right arm. His left hand drifted up to the edge of his hood and he pulled down, gold eyes never leaving me.
My eyes widened and my blade dipped. He didn't look any older or, somehow, any crueler. The bald head still reflected light as it had years earlier and the sneer was just as permanent as ever. His beard was short now, however, cropped so it was simply a more rough outline of his jawline. "Isran?" I rasped. Dragonbane shot back up and I shook my head. "Isran, what's going on?"
He didn't respond, instead just glaring at me from where he stood, black cloak flapping in the wind. His thin, black armor gleamed in the sun with a dark threat within it. "Isran..." I muttered quietly. I didn't want what was coming next to come. I... I didn't want this all to go the way it was going to go. "Isran, I'm sorry that this happened to you. Because of me." I raised my voice. "Oct, run!"I dashed towards the Vampire as quickly as I could, swinging blade up with both hands. The spear swirled and caught my attack, sparks flying where the metal collided. He angled the weapon and my attack went wide, but I used the momentum to swing a horizontal blow at his throat. He snarled and brought his spear vertical as quickly as he could manage. I snarled and pushed him backwards with as much force as I could manage, getting in close to him as I did.
He was oddly silent for a man who had become the thing he hated most, I thought. Or perhaps I had just been conditioned to expect some sort of negative remark from him whenever we were together. He'd had much to say about my relationship with Serana, after all. But now? Faced with the result of that relationship? I had never thought I'd be disappointed that he wouldn't make some sort of derogatory statement about my son. Still, I knew he wouldn't be attacking me and working with Serana if there was anything left of him in there. Five years in Thera's palm was a frightening prospect to even me. I would simply free him in the only way he would respect – I would kill him.
I took a shaky breath and raised one leg, slamming my foot into his chest. He stumbled back a step and twirled his spear again, hefting it over his shoulder and then tossing it as hard as he could... over me. I snarled and threw my hand towards it, casting a telekinesis spell in an attempt to divert the spear from reaching its destination. Oct, hiding behind the well but still watching the fight with awe – he was my and Serana's son to the core, it seemed. The spear turned a few degrees towards me and flew past him, though he jumped backwards and threw himself to the ground and sprinted further into the town.
I breathed a sigh of relief and began to turn towards the Vampire again. "You d-" I was cut off by a hammer slamming into my gut, the armor I wore protecting me from any permanent damage, but still sending me stumbling backwards. I struggled to breathe in, the issue twofold now due to the damage to my throat and the blow to my diaphragm. "Ngh..."
I looked up and stumbled to the side, avoiding another blow from the hammer, which slammed intot he dirt and sent dust flying into the air. I snarled and brought my blade down on the Vampire's wrist. "Skyrim will be purged of your filth!" it roared, rage that was not Isran's possessing his words and voice. The monster dropped its weapon before I could hit its arm and the Vampire brought its hand up to backhand me. I tried to dodge, but the blow caught my chin. I tumbled backwards, slowly coming to a stop across the dirt of the village.
Dorthe charged past me with her Katana raised above her right shoulder. She slashed down before the Vampire could reclaim its hammer, a blow that the creature easily avoided. She jumped at almost the same time and performed a powerful sidekick to the Vampire's chest. She flipped backwards and landed softly before rushing ahead and slamming her shoulder into the Vampire's midsection. He sidestepped the blow and brought both hands down on top of her back. Dorthe cried out and felt her knees buckle, forcing her to the ground and her face into the dirt. His boot's heel hit the back of her head and she went silent. Unconscious, I hoped. The Vampire lumbered over to his hammer and bent down to lift it up.
I surged to my feet while he was still bent down, and his eyes shot towards me, glinting red with murder. I charged my palms with the small amount of Sparks I could muster, charging the blade with electric energy, then slashed down at the Vampire. He brought his hammer up and it collided with the sword, sending the sword flying from my hands. I didn't let it dissuade me, instead opting to charge forward and wrap my hands around his wrists. The spell in my palms turned into a burning flame that began to burn through his armor and ignite his semi-dead flash. He roared in pain and dropped his hammer again, shrieking in rage for a moment before setting himself and shooting his head forward. His forehead collided with my nose and I roared in pain, but I didn't let go. The second blow hit my right eye socket and I felt bone crack. I still refused to let go. The third blow him my nose again and that one did the trick. My back hit the hammer and my head slammed into the ground. I should have been unconscious, but as it stood I was merely stunned. Dazed, with everything swirling around me.
The Vampire stood over me for a moment, glaring at me. It almost felt Isran-ian. Then the turned and walked away. I thought I heard a blade ring out of a leather sheathe. A dagger. I rolled onto my chest and tried to push myself up to my knees. "Oct..." I groaned, voice barely a whisper. I coughed and nearly fell to my face again. It was a struggle, but I resisted, and even made it up to my feet. "Oct, run!"
"AH!" Then the noise of blade swinging through the air, thought even now I wonder if I could really hear that or if I imagine it being present now that I am so far removed from that moment.
I surged straight and ignored my pain – didn't even feel it really – at that noise. "Oct... OCT!" I roared. My voice was clear, now in my rage. I ran toward the source of the noise. "OCT!" The world was still blurred. "OCT!" I froze and the world became clear. He was there, on the ground. His throat was... He...
My eyes focused on the Vampire, now the only thing clear in the entire world. Fire welled up in my soul and it was as if nothing that had happened to me that day had happened. All I could feel was... hate. "FUS RO DAH!"
The Vampire turned towards me with blank eyes of gold before pure, powerful force turned him to nothing more than ash.
"Emperor, what..." Dorthe froze and stared at the sight before her. I felt her hand touch my shoulder, a light and quiet thing. I had helped her after everything that happened with her family. We were family, that was the truth. She felt my pain, as I had felt hers so long ago. "I...I'm sorry."
I just stared at what remained. I reached up to my throat at a sudden cringe of pain. A thin line of blood came back on my hand. My voice was raspier, now. "I'm going to turn her to ash." I left without another word. Dorthe knew to stay here. I shut off everything that existed within my heart at that moment. Fear, pain, anguish. If I let that sadness out even for a moment, it would drown me.
That bitch... She'd injured me, taken my wife, enslaved my friend...
My son's life would be avenged.
Fahiil
Thera
From where I stood, with elven eyesight and Vampiric senses, I could see what had happened well enough. "Get up. We're leaving," I snapped to the woman on the ground. She didn't move. She just stayed on her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks; she had seen what I had, then. I grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her to her feet, eliciting a cry of pain. "I said we're leaving." I moved my hand to her wrists and began to pull her away. She struggled vainly for a moment, but soon gave in to my control, stumbling after me close like a good little broken slave. Watching your child die, from what I've observed from other captured humans, was a good way for humans to just break.
I tugged her down the hill, every pull causing her to stumble and nearly hit me. "Watch your feet, Insect," I snapped on one particularly offending moment. She snarled at me, but looked at the ground with a broken look a moment later.I shook my head and continued to drag her behind me, making my way towards Raven Rock. I would have to travel non-stop for a day and a half just to get there in time to head back to Alinor without Lucius catching up, but he was injured. I liked my odds.
"Stop!"
I turned around and looked towards the source of the voice. Lucius stood there, without a sword, blood running down from the gash in his throat and his shattered nose. His right eye was swollen, the dark purple and large bruising giving his face a misshapen quality. He was pale, almost like a Vampire though I knew it was actually from blood loss, shock, and rage. His armor was fractured, the glove I had broken missing from his right hand, the tail of his armor-jacket tattered, the brown stained red in many places. "Lucius," I growled, tugging until my arm was around the woman's throat. "I thought your wounds would have slowed you down."
His one good eye was filled with rage and electricity sparked at his fingers, his rage allowing his destruction magick to surge to its old levels despite the poison in his blood. Certainly with less blood it likely should have been more potent, instead. His voice was like rocks grinding against one another. "DIE!"
Honestly, I was surprised by this. I was holding his beloved like a shield. Why would he – I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side, keeping her close to me while I jumped past a white hot beam of flames that rushed from his outstretched arm. I hissed and wrapped my arm around the woman's throat again. "You would risk her death like that!?"
His one good eye communicated nothing but rage, but I knew that there was more there. He truly wasn't threatening Serana at all. He was making sure she wouldn't be – Everything was flame, then. I screamed as the rune at my feet exploded and I was surrounded by flames. Somehow, the flames resisted their natural urge to consume everything and left Serana alone. I kept a tight hold on her despite this and bared my fangs, sinking them tight into her throat to create a magickal conduit. The flames spread from my body to hers and it was her turn to scream.
The flames disappeared instantly. I took my mouth from her flesh and pulled one of my many spare daggers from my hip with my off hand, tossing one at Luc when he moved to run towards me. He didn't flinch when the blade soared towards him, but he was never in danger of death, it seemed. "FEIM!" he screamed, voice rougher now. The blade passed harmlessly through his body. "FUS RO!" I stumbled backwards at the sound of his voice, now like the burnt lungs of a miner or a beast-folk. My grip on Serana loosened. "IIZ SLEN!" His voice was nearly non-existent now, destroyed by overuse of his Thu'um and the ever widening gash on his throat. Still, ice froze me and Serana in place. "YOL – " Lucius gasped in pain and fell to his knees as, instead of rushing from his mouth, the flames exploded out of the hole in his throat. Blood boiled and turned to red steam as it dripped from his open jaw and the wound on his neck. He clutched at it and tried to summon up a spell to seal it shut again. Frozen as I was, I could only watch as his throat sealed shut again – the scar, now, was nearly as wide as his adam's apple and stretched from his voice box to the top of the protrusion in his neck.
I recovered first, however. I smiled and forced Serana to her knees. "Iiz," and her feet were frozen to the ground. "Well... seems you pushed yourself too far."
He glared up at me and I could see the words already forming in his eyes. "Another shout and you might die, Luc. Would it be worth it?"
He didn't respond. Saving his voice. Smart.
But pointless. "Oh, you must know I'll kill you anyways. You finally learned not be so stupid, it seems." I shook my head and drew another of my daggers, then placed it at his throat.
"Well, if he's going to die, I won't let you get what you need." I looked over at Serana and saw one of my many daggers placed along the vein in her wrist. I raised an eyebrow and scoffed. She growled and glared at me, saying, "You don't have the bow, but you'll still chase me to the end of the world, won't you?"
"You can't kill yourself. A Daughter of Coldharbour is nearly immortal. Divine Magick is all that can kill us. Go ahead. It's worthless to try," I said dismissively before returning my attention to Lucius. "I'll just collect your body and force blood down your throat. Then I can take your blood when I find the Bow."
The whore was silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was cracking and tears were audible: "Goodbye Luc. Take care of everything, and... and find a way to save me from Coldharbour." Such finality. Could she – I turned on my heel and sprinted towards her, knowing what she planned now. No, how could I be so stupid!? She slit her wrist, the Sunlight Poison tainting her blood and keeping the wound from healing. No, no non onononono! She dropped the knife and placed her hand over her wrist. "I love you." Then bright light exploded from her hand, spreading through her veins throughout her entire body. No no no... Then, the Sunlight magick she was channeling into her own bloodstream exploded, taking her with it.
I was thrown back, the sunlight burning my own skin. How? How did she learn that magick!? I hit the ground and rolled to my feet. No... NO! I... I just... I whirled on Lucius, whose eyes were streaming tears. He didn't look dead. He looked... determined. It made no sense, he... Why? Ah, of course. Determined to see her again. "A human soul will never survive Coldharbour - and yours will never find a way there!" I snapped, raising the dagger above my head. I'd rather torture him for decades... but it wasn't worth the risk.
"SHUL KUN KAAGEND!" The light tore from his throat, opening the scar yet again, but more of it flew from his jaw. I shrieked as the Divine Light enveloped me, burning at my flesh and searing my very bones with their power. I stumbled backwards and shrieked in pain. Another shout!? Another – The pain ran through me again. I needed to escape, to recover with blood drained from a thousand mortals and Vampires. Then I would march into his Imperial City and destroy it! I would burn it to the ground and devour the blood of every human that dared stand against me in that city. And I would make him watch it all! I turned and ran away, skin still ablaze.
Lucius hit the ground behind me. Dead or unconscious, I was unsure. Either way, he would pay.
Jul
Lucius
I woke up with the taste of health potion running down my throat. I coughed and gurgled at the feeling of my flesh stitching together. "Agh!" I hissed as air began to pour into my burning lungs. "D-Dorthe?"
The Nord was kneeling over me with a hollow look in her eyes. Shame, disappointment. It – The events of the day hit me like a charging dragon and the air tore from my throat, burning as it passed the scars within my esophagus. I sat up. "She's alive..." I scrabbled to my feet and jumped towards Serana's body. "She's alive. She has to be." I grabbed her shoulders and shook. "Serana? Serana!" I shook her shoulders more. "Serana? Serana, she's gone. The cloak, I know it -"
"Mama?"
I froze. I turned and looked over my shoulder towards the source. Standing beside the hollow eyed Dorthe... was Oct. "I... I don't..." I glanced down at Serana. She wasn't wearing it. She had no cloak. I fell to my back and felt ice run through my veins. My voice, already a ragged whisper, was almost silent now. "She's... Gone..." I looked at the ground and letting loose the tidal wave of pain and rage running through me. Serana, the love of my life, the... The mother of my son was – The pain disappeared for a moment. Octavian, I –
I stood up and turned around. Octavian. He was fine. Blood soaked his furs and drenched the m red. His throat was covered in crusted brown and slick red. But the wound, the slit throat that had marked the end of his life... It was gone. Healed. Completely. As well, I knew, as any scar he had ever received. The cloak – my mother's cloak, his mother's cloak – was wrapped tight around his waist like a belt. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hid his mother's body from his vision. "Octavian..." I whispered, hugging him tighter against me. He didn't make any noise in response. He was acting the same exact way that I was. Hollow.I pulled him in tighter, both for my own benefit and for his. I tried to think up words to say. "Octavian... I'm sorry. I am... so, so sorry." I stood up and picked him up, holding him to my chest with my off arm. I looked over at Dorthe, who refused to meet my gaze. She was ashamed. "Lead Arvak, he'll..." I found I couldn't say it. I raised my hand and channeled the magicka needed. It was still taking longer than usual – the poison must still have been present in my blood. Still, I managed to summon the skeletal horse without another word. Dorthe moved silently to pick up Serana and place her upon the horse's back. He neighed uneasily and nipped at Serana's hair in an attempt to get her attention. Serana... Serana didn't respond.
"No, Arvak." I placed a hand on his head and petted softly. Dorthe moved past me and grabbed Arvak's reins to lead him forward. Before she could begin to move, I placed my hand on her shoulder. "How?"
Dorthe looked over at me. "Seran – The Empress. While you were gone, she asked that I give him that cloak as a belt. She explained what it did, and said not to tell you. If you noticed, you noticed. If not..." She looked down. "I don't regret it."
"You shouldn't. It was the right decision," I said simply. I gripped her shoulder more tightly and I heard my son crying into my shoulder. "You did your duty, and I thank you."
"I didn't notice the assassin. I should have noticed the assassin." She shut her eyes and shrugged my hand from her shoulder. "I was complacent. I must work harder. Be like Delphine insists I be."
I didn't respond. I didn't know what to say.
"We should... get moving," she said. Her voice was completely even, betraying no emotion. I understood that desire. She began to walk away, the world weighing upon her shoulders. I watched her go for a moment, then clutched my son tight to my chest as he sobbed himself to sleep... And I followed a half moment later, promising Serana that I would never again let Octavian suffer in the way he had that day.
