Chapter 23 – New dealings with an old demon
"When the Snow Tower lies sundered, kingless, bleeding
The World-Eater wakes, and the Wheel turns upon the Last Dragonborn"
– Quote, Book of the Dragonborn
"Serana! Have you lost your mind?" Tai demanded, Serana's eyes blazed. Her cold fingers were laced around the Falmer's throat, her eyes intent, her whole body posed for a fight, or in this case, a torturous beat down.
"We need directions" Serana shrugged, her tone escaping clenched teeth. She was boiling, past reasoning even. Tai swallowed, he had always known Serana had a dark, insane side. But this was just crazy… crazier. It was crazier than the average day, for Tai, in Skyrim. Serana was interrogating a Falmer.
"We can find our way" Tai felt the urge to defend the Falmer suddenly, something about this was wrong.
"A goat could navigate better than I. You're a man. The odds are not in our favour" Serana smiled, it seemed she could throw Tai's words back equally as he could. Tai cursed under his breath.
"Falmer can't talk" Tai mumbled, Serana smiled. Something about her intent was purely horrifying.
"Can't… or wont?" Serana's question took Tai by surprise. Something was urging him to say they could not, something was forcing him to defend the Falmer. It wasn't his choice, it felt almost magical. Tai swallowed. Refusing to speak gave Serana her answer.
"Now. Falmer. You're shivering here, obviously not use to this area. You smell different as well, as if you have had human contact. That means possible discussions, even with that child. You should understand basic words. For your sake, prey to whatever gods you worship you do" Serana shifted the Falmer's neck to a bad angle, Tai saw it hiss.
"Let me make this clear, answer and I will not slowly kill you. Try to fight, your neck is snapped. Refuse or are unable to answer, your worth is proven and I will kill you" Serana pressed, the Falmer hissed.
"Human" it managed to get out, Tai froze in absolute shock. Serana was talking, to a Falmer. Not a snow elf such as Gelebor, but an actual Betrayed. Tai wondered which was more important. Speaking to one of the last remaining snow elves, or talking to one cursed for generations.
"Not quite. You've got the idea. Keep speaking" Serana coaxed. Her tone turned polite so quickly Tai's insides felt like they were jerked, Serana was the mistress torturer.
"No speak to human" The Falmer spat out, its hand launching for Serana's head. Serana seemed uninterested as she caught the Falmer's arm, magic surrounding her hand. It fell again, paralysed, or so Tai believed.
"I've just removed every bone from your arm. I can also drop you into the ice, you could live buried up to your pointed ears in the ice until I grow board of watching your mouth flap" Serana applied more pressure to the Falmer's throat. Tai felt stung as he saw the pink drain from the Falmer's face, its look of fear was the most touching Tai had seen. Serana seemed unbothered.
"I know fear, I smell it within you. I know intelligence, I believe you are intelligent enough to know what happens if you try and play Tai" Serana twitched one finger, earning a chocked grunt from the Falmer she pinned.
"Speak. Where are the remaining Wayshrines?"
"Follow, path. Human will die, taste good, sound good, feel good. Die bad" The Falmer continued growling, Tai stared down at it with venom pulsing through his heart.
"How do we avoid your people detecting us?" Tai managed to speak politely. The Falmer spat at him, its spittle landing on Tai's boot. Serana held no remorse as she drew her dagger, her grip on the Falmer tightened before she carelessly slashed it across the Falmer's hand. It screamed. Serana smiled, Tai shuddered. Not only was Serana unbothered by inflicting pain, she even enjoyed it. In this moment, she was again Lady Serana.
"Answer the question" Serana hissed, smiling as she sniffed the blood on the dagger. Tai saw the fear flood the Falmer again. Serana's grip loosened to permit the words to escape.
"Human stink. Human smell like us, we no smell. Human walk funny. Human move like us, we no hear. We blind. We no see ugly human. We see no Wayshrine" The Falmer growled. Serana looked almost pained as she kept the cold tone of Lady Serana.
"You have done well. Thank you" Serana spoke, then flicked her hand faster than Tai's eyes could comprehend. The Falmer's neck was snapped, it died instantly.
Tai froze, staring down at the clearly broken Falmer as Serana rose, savagery in her eyes, in her smile. Her entire body moved with an unspeakable grace, a frightening purpose. She took three steps before extending her hand. Tai saw the flash through her eyes, the magic followed. Tai felt the pulse, sickening him to his core as more Falmer flew through the air towards them. Serana seemed unphased as she cast her next spell. A blinding bolt of lightning assaulted the Falmer, then a coat of ice froze their searing flesh.
"Grab them" Serana ordered with a cool perfection in her voice. Tai shuddered, she had taken Z's tone and turned it from sexy yet frightening to horrifically frightening. He couldn't help stare at Serana; she didn't even seem to feel guilt.
"Who are you?" Tai asked simply, Serana turned her eyes to him. After staring a moment the savage smile fell from her face, replaced by a weakness. Tai's heart stopped.
"Feeding, it turns me into the monster and less of myself. I can't afford to be myself Tai" Serana shuddered, a tear escaping her eye. Tai sighed.
"Sometimes, you must sacrifice everything for what needs to be done" He mumbled, tugging a Falmer's arm roughly to where Serana had pointed.
"This is wrong" Tai shuddered; his whisper earned a hiss from Serana. Tai crouched, resting his elbows on his knees. He continued trying to take shallow breaths, the fresh stench of death covering him. He was desperate to itch the skin of dead Falmer Serana had stuck to him, Tai could barely breath without the metallic smell hitting his nose. Serana had somehow countered it; she seemed at pains about the methods however. Tai was comforted by her pain for a change; it reminded him that she still had a soul, as far as a vampire could have.
"I don't take pleasure in this" Serana mumbled her reply, again they had to move.
Falmer passed them, offering strange sniffs every now and again. Tai flinched each time; Serana seemed at ease with it. Eventually they reached a village of sorts, raised high above the ground. The Falmer had begun surrounding them. They had two Wayshrines to go, Serana was tense. Tai gulped, willing his heart to slow.
Serana took no pause as she strode straight past the Falmer, hissing as they would when one reached for her. Tai followed, barely seeing where he was walking as Serana led the way. Something was unnatural about how his mind was operating, blindly following Serana. Tai's insides screamed, he should run, or fight. He couldn't resist taking the next step however; he couldn't refuse Serana's silent orders. This wasn't Serana; she never used any form of magic on him, ever. Now she was flooding his system, he was a slave. His mind, body and soul were trapped by this mistress. From the sweet yet painful sensation flooding him as he thought and fought silently, she wasn't releasing him any time soon.
They wondered, Tai's mind asleep as he managed to follow Serana effortlessly. Time held no meaning, neither did direction. Only one foot forwards, only following Serana. Mimicking her every move. It was all Tai could do, his thoughts were even dimmed by a strange fog. His body didn't tire; it didn't crave food, or substance. He needed no breath. Whatever magic Serana was using, it was truly horrifying. Serana never turned to look at him, her manner changing to its familiar guilt trip. Tai couldn't remember, he couldn't remember anything. He felt so afraid, his mind crying out for aid, his body however was serene, at peace even.
The sunlight hit his face, forcing him to blink as they exited the canyon, into the clear space. Tai felt everything rushing him as he fell to his knees, eyes on the Wayshrine ahead. Serana ran to him desperately. Tai shuddered weakly as her hand closed around his chin, lifting his face. Instantly she peeled his eyelid open, her intent look of concern hit Tai's stomach like Isran's rabbit stew.
"I feel like I ate Isran's rabbit stew" Tai voiced his thoughts, Serana smiled slightly, obviously saddened. Tai blinked a few more times, instantly noting how red Serana's eyes were. Tai shook, waking himself as he rested his back against the rock. Serana looked even more worried as he paused, trying to think of what words to use. What question to ask first.
"Why have you been crying?" eventually stumbled from his mouth, Serana looked away. Her hand grew heavy on him, her lip quivered, eyelids sunk.
"I had to possess you. It was the only way through; you were panicking, drawing attention. Please forgive me" Serana finally begged. Tai blinked.
"You. What?"
"I had to. Tai they were going to kill us… Well, you anyway. I had no choice" Serana was shaking, fear flooding from her in waves. Tai held her shoulders as firmly as he could.
"Will I recover? If not you better have brought good food" Tai grumped, unable to hide his broad smile as Serana stared at him in shock. She grinned back, that unique smile again. Tai's insides shuddered in anticipation. He knew what that smile meant.
"I'll repay the debt, after the quest is over" Serana whispered into his ear, her body leaning into him the way that sent Tai's mind to his belt, and bellow. Tai couldn't help grabbing Serana and pulling her tighter against him.
"How about a taste now? I might find something else I would like instead" Tai tried to sound as dark as he could, Serana fixed him with a disapproving look.
"I would have to kill whatever slut you wanted more than me" She hissed with a venom, Tai chuckled.
"Help me up Rana" He groaned, Serana pulled him effortlessly to his feet. A quizitive look crossed her face.
"Rana?" She tilted her head, lips pursed like Tai often did. Serana had taken so many of his habits, as he had hers. Tai's hands rested on her waist.
"I need a name to call you, my lady" Tai couldn't help grin his crooked grin, left side smiling. Serana also smiled.
"Lady Rana… I like it" Serana danced away from him, Tai blinked in shock. He thought he had her. Serana pointed to the Wayshrine.
"Quest, then romance" she seemed pained to say. Tai laughed loudly at the pout she put on. He wondered how Serana had snuck her pack past the Falmer, he then realised they were still covered in Falmer skin. Tai shuddered, Serana grinned. Tai only just realised that they were completely naked still, right as Serana began peeling the skin from her body. Tai averted his eyes respectfully, occasionally sneaking a glance over his shoulder. He was still human, after all.
That in many ways, was a lie. He knew he could never be "just human" ever again.
He was a Werewolf; he sensed the world as a hunting ground. Not as a human hunter, life was the great hunt. Chasing down death with each taunting heartbeat. The thrill of blood, defeating another enemy. The scent of Serana's flesh, the perfect way she moulded to him. The desire.
He had been a vampire, cold perfection. He had heard every heartbeat, seen the world with eyes no one alive could ever expect too, could ever wish too. Nothing complex nor simple, everything moving towards a single acceptable fate, fate he would never meet. He had been the ultimate gambler, cheating life and death.
Now he was simply confused.
Now Tai was something stuck between his past and present. He felt the urge of the wolf, the calculating of the vampire and the lust of his own human desires. He couldn't control what nature would emerge. Before death, the wolf had been a huge part of him, always against him yet controllable. Now it seemed forced, stitched to him and expected to operate like a part of him. It could never be the same. It could never be "just human", it was forever a fight, a war. One where there was no victory, only survival.
"Are you ok?" Serana enquired, her eyes pinning on him as Tai sat there. His legs covered in the pants, his chest still patched with Falmer skin. Tai hadn't even registered his actions, his thoughts were much deeper.
Tai nodded his hand closed around the ewer before he rose to his feet. He lurched a few steps, Serana was instantly there, her shoulders beneath his arm, supporting him. Tai groaned as he touched his sore side; how he got it he didn't even know. Serana's hands breezed him, tearing the rotting flesh from him. He stood before the Wayshrine, answering without hearing. The magic was pulsing in his ears as Serana tried to heal him. She was failing.
Tai strode through the entrance, dipped the ewer into the water and collected. Tai then turned, his hand closing around the basin to support himself. He was glad he had as he turned. Tai's eyes fixed upon perfection. The building rivalled even Serana's beauty.
"Are you seeing this? It's fantastic!" Serana exclaimed quietly, her voice shaking with admiration.
The building was of grey stone, or so it seemed. It sat in the mountains embrace, a bridge leading over the gap between the ground and the building's courtyard. It wove, upwards going back into the mountain. Its simple carving catching the sun's rays in such a way as to make it shine. The closer Tai and Serana walked, the brighter it shone. The boring grey stone was suddenly glowing, the purest white imaginable.
It's windows upon the lower floor were bigger than Tai, curving at the top with beautiful, curved lines across them. They also shone, catching the rays. Upon the second floor their tops pointed, less beauty and more defensive. Each bigger than the level below.
"It's unlike anything I've ever seen" Serana whispered, Tai smiled. It truly was, Serana's eyes widened as they finished crossing the bridge, the shadows claimed them once more. Together they seemed to leap up the stairs, skipping two at a time before they entered a courtyard, again bathed in a golden glow.
"Wow" Tai was gobsmacked.
"This is a statue of Auriel, but it's using his older symbol of power. This temple must be ancient" Serana pointed ahead, Tai's mouth fell open.
The stature was an elf, holding two stringless bows that united with the sun. The statue was of pure gold, bigger than most houses Tai had seen in height. Ice dripped from its arms, the few trees in the yard were also snow covered. The snow crunched beneath Serana's feet as she took a few steps forwards, enchanted by the statue.
"More so than you?" Tai asked. Serana shook her head.
"Older ma…" She stopped, turning venomous eyes to the grinning Tai.
"Not funny"
Tai smiled, walking across the yard to the next set of stairs, they lead to another balcony. Tai stared at the basin, ignoring the cracks throughout the balcony floor. With a sigh, he poured the water into the basin. He stood, ready for something magnificent to happen.
"Isn't something supposed to happen?" Tai finally asked. Serana stared.
"Snow elf, rip off, magic. Nothing happened" Serana groaned. She was now annoyed with what she has been enchanted by. She had spoken too soon.
The water emptied itself from the basin, running down the unseeming cracks. Serana cursed loudly as the water began to glow, a brilliant aqua green. Tai turned his attention to the giant doors, walking to stand in the suddenly obvious five point star glowing before them. Tai stood, watching the symbol on the door spin and move, the water providing life. With a final resounding clang, the door swung open.