Chapter 7

"Oh fuck me." I groaned as I looked from where I was kneeling, my skin still smoking from the being in the sun.

Maybe I should explain; I thought I would be able to reach Whiterun before daybreak after leaving Winterhold last night. Unfortunately, that was not the case. And the worst part of it was that I had forgotten to pack a Blood Potion or two before I left just in case. But now I'm suffering from the consequences. The second I reached the stables, I jumped off of Praetorian's back and immediately started for Jorrvaskr, trying to get out of the sun as soon as possible.

Seems I forgot one small detail though; the Companions are famous for not being the best of friends with Vampires. And they must've smelled that I was a Vampire because they immediately drew their swords and axes and got ready to attack.

I'm sorry Mathias. I guess we'll never see each other again after all.

"STOP!" A booming voice called out. "He's my brother!"

I looked toward the source of the voice, straining to do so as my neck continued to feel like it was burning, despite wearing a hood to protect my face and neck. "Bro…ther?" I strained to say, my throat feeling very sore and dry all of a sudden before nearly collapsing onto the floor. Thankfully, Mathias moved fast enough to catch me.

"Are you alright Navarre?"

"Please tell me you're not seriously asking that right now." I tried to joke, but found it to be too painful to laugh at the time. "I know that you have things that you want to ask, but now is really not a good time. But I promise, I'll explain everything once I've healed."

"I understand Navarre. Farkas, go grab some potions." Mathias ordered before helping me to lie on a nearby table and get the top half of my armor off. How the sun managed to burn my chest and arms through my armor is still beyond me.

"What are you doing Harbinger? Why are you helping a Vampire?" a man in, I think, Wolf Armor asked.

"He's not just a Vampire Vilkas. He's my little brother." Mathias answered, giving Vilkas a look that told him to back away. Farkas soon approached with a satchel full of different potions as Mathias told him to start healing me. "We have a lot to catch up on Navarre, but it can wait until you're feeling better. Just rest and relax."

"Thank you brother." I said before Mathias walked away to address the Companions. "Can I ask you a question?" I asked as Farkas began pouring one of the potions over my chest. "Why are you helping me? And you seem much more… friendlier than…"

"Vilkas? It's because I trust the Harbinger, and since he's my Shield brother and your real brother, it makes us family...somehow." Farkas explained, which seemed to make some sense. I think.

"Well, for whatever its worth, thanks." I said through a strong grunt as my skin stung as it healed.

"Don't ask how I came up with that. Vilkas is the one good with thinking and stuff."

"Let me guess, you two are brothers right? And if he's the smart one, then I'm guessing that you're the strong one."

"Something like that." Farkas answered as he pulled the cork from another potion. This one must've been stronger because I couldn't hold back the scream of pain as it came into contact with my seared skin.

"What in the name of Azura is going on in here?" A woman asked as she entered Jorrvaskr, using the princess of dawn and dusk's name instead of Talos like most Nords, but this woman didn't. I'd never heard of a Nord that didn't worship Tal… wait a minute. She's a vampire too? Why are the Companions acting so casual around her as if were the most natural thing in the world?

"Farkas, who is that woman?" I asked before he poured another potion onto me.

"That's Serana. The Harbinger found her in a cave some time ago. Helped the Dawnguard take down her father."

Serana… she had to be one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life. Something about her attracted me to her but I can't figure out what that might… wait, what am I saying? I'm in love with Kara.

"Serana, would you mind watching over Navarre please while I go to get more potions?" Mathias asked the woman as she removed her hood. I then heard him whisper, "I don't want anyone trying to kill him while I'm gone. Especially Vilkas or Aela."

"Of course Mathias." Serana said as Mathias left with Farkas following close behind. She knelt next to me and said, "So you're the little brother that sent him that letter."

"Yes. I'm sure Mathias has told you about me?" I asked.

"Very little. He said that you two were attacked by vampires when you crossed the border into Skyrim. He thought you were dead. He was so happy to find out that you were alive after he read the letter."

"Did he tell you that it's been years since that happened and that we haven't seen each other since?"

"Yes. He's only told me about you up to when the Vampires attacked." Serana answered. "Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"What is your faith? The Divines or the Daedra?"

"The Divines. The day I begin worshipping the Daedra will be the day that I see Alduin rise from the dead after he is killed." I answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Are you lying to me?"

"Of course not."

"Then why are you a Vampire Lord? Only those who worship Molag Bal become Vampire Lords." Serana accused.

I was about to start explaining myself when many of the Companions followed close behind Mathias, and they seemed to be arguing about… what to do with me? What did I do? All I did was try to find protection from the sun. It wasn't my fault for… oh no, not now. I need to keep calm.

"HE'LL KILL US ALL! CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S IN BLOOD LUST?!" Vilkas shouted. He must've been the one that started the argument. I could tell that he didn't like me from the second Mathias told him to not attack.

"HE'S MY BROTHER! WOULD YOU DO THE SAME TO FARKAS?!" Mathias shouted back. I knew that no matter what, he would never turn his back on family. I don't think he'd have it in him to turn me away.

"Navarre, are you okay?" Serana asked, showing concern as I started to move.

"Serana… get back… please." I pleaded. Thankfully, she moved away from me as I moved off of the table, but my pain and thirst for blood were starting to get the better of me. My body began to creak and crack as everything just built to what I tried my hardest to keep hidden.

Having watched myself transform before, I knew exactly what was happening to me at this very moment; my skin began turning jet black and tearing, my wings burst from my back, and my bones broke and extended until I was in my full Vampire Lord form, which brought an eerily quick silence as everyone stared at me while I tried to stand up.

"I'm sure you're all wondering how I became this...thing." I stared to say. "I had heard rumors of a castle appearing as if out of the fog just west of Solitude, and when I heard the word Volkihar, I knew I had to do something. I had heard that they are the worst of the Vampires and if they were left unchecked, who knows what horrors they would have rained upon Tamriel. In the dead of night, I managed to bypass their defenses. I guess being a Vampire myself helped me evade their guards since they had no mortals to scent out. When I got to the deepest part of the castle, the thirst struck me. I hadn't fed in weeks and it was showing itself at the worst possible time. I could hear voices close to my location, and if I didn't move, I would have been caught, but I hadn't the strength. The scent of blood filled my senses and that was when I saw the alter; vile and putrid in Molag Bal's name, but it was full of sweet, sweet blood, a way of sating the thirst without harming an innocent. Without thinking, I drank deep from the alter. I was weak, I couldn't resist, and before I knew it, it felt like my body was being ripped apart from the inside out. And after it all went black, I came to and saw that I had become...this. This horrifying… monster."

"Navarre…" Mathias said quietly. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I was afraid to. I thought if I did then you wouldn't have helped me." I answered, looking away in shame.

"Navarre, you know I would never turn you away. No matter what you've become." Mathias said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I was about to thank him when Vilkas drew his sword. "What do you think you're doing Vilkas?" Mathias asked angrily.

"Brother or not, we cannot let a Vampire Lord live. It is our job to eliminate them!" Vilkas said before charging at me. Despite having next to no strength, I was ready to grab his arm, but Mathias hit him hard, sending him to the wall with a loud howl, similar to that of a Werewolf.

"You, WILL NOT HARM HIM!" Mathias bellowed loudly.

"Brother please. Is the really necessary?" I asked as Vilkas started to charge again, only to be knocked out cold by Mathias punching him hard in the head.

"Take him to his quarters. And lock him in." Mathias ordered as my body began to painfully change back to its natural state. "Serana, do you have any Blood Potions on you?"

"Of course. I always keep a few with me in case of emergencies." Serana answered as she took a Blood Potion from her bag, removed the cork, knelt next to me and helped me to drink it since my body was so weak. "Drink slow Navarre. If you drink it too fast it's not gonna help as quick."

Once the bottle was empty, I turned away to cough, having taken too in too much from the last gulp. My body did however begin to regain its strength as my skin finally began healing. "Thank you Serana."

"You should get some rest Navarre. We will talk once you have your strength back." Mathias offered, which I accepted. I never would've thought I would be so exhausted after an ordeal such as this.

I'm My Own OC

12/9/12