Chapter 28 – Taken

"We'll show those faithless dogs who this land belongs too"
-Quote, Stormcloak Soldier

Tai sat on the roof, his feet dangling down, facing the ground several house heights bellow. Fort Dawnguard was bigger than any Castle Tai had seen. He had seen several, most without permission. Tai had left Serana again, feeling that she needed space. Tai had to admit, he himself needed space. He hadn't been so free, yet so chained, before in his entire life. He could go anywhere, do anything and yet he would always be chained to Serana.

The feeling, the knowledge, was enough to make Tai need to catch his breath.

"Glad to see you've figured it out" Brand's voice rasped. Tai almost jumped as he looked to his right, Brand was crouching there. He was so casual, and yet so threatening. Tai had to ask.

"Are you a werewolf? You have the presence of one, but not the smell"

"Alas no. I am not a vampire either, although I was. Z would not allow someone of my… history, to become a werewolf. My anger matches one, without the gift itself. That and the mages experiments when I was a slave. Even the Listener was surprised my nature and morals were intact" Brand sighed. Tai looked to him with a confused expression.

"Experiments?"

"I see more history that is hidden. A few hundred years ago, after the Oblivion Crisis, there was a disease. It mostly affected soldiers who had passed through the gates, the ranks of those who fought at The Hero's side. My father fought there, I was a rare case who inherited the disease. I was sold as a slave, when my father realised I was infected. My master was obsessed with mastering the diseases effects and using them for his own gain" Brand shook his head.

"Something no one would openly admit, if this had become common knowledge… There would have been another war, and nothing would be left but the High Elves" Brand spat after speaking the race.

"Not a fan I assume" Tai stated. Brand grinned.

"My closest friend, Arada, she is part High Elf. I am not a fan of their politics however. My master was a high elf. Through some painful testings, he discovered the disease was part Deadric. In other words, I have a Deadric disease through my system. It makes me stronger, but more prone to violence. Any can sense my aura as a threat, especially those who have seen and dealt violence. That is why I joined the Mages College, later grew to lead it. The people there accepted me as an equal, not as a threat or a subject of interest. Only one other has ever done that, the Listener herself" Brand shook his head, again grinning foolishly.

"She is the only non-elf I have seen who possesses such grace. I once swore I had died laying eyes on her, covered in blood as her clothing. Dark mud smeared across her pale skin, a knife in her teeth. I believed for one moment she was the Night Mother or Sithis himself in flesh"

"You are in love with Z?" Tai asked, almost sympathetically. Brand's eyes hardened slightly.

"She is beyond a mortals reach, she should be a goddess. I admire her, as a deity Tai, not as a lover"

Tai smiled as he sat on the bank, hidden in the shadows. He had killed the two small mud crabs quite quietly even for the former assassin. The dying grass he crouched on was soft as he pulled his shirt off quickly, a mysterious smile on his now strongly adult face. Tai had changed, not just in attitude but appearance since meeting Serana. Where he had once been charming and the magic pull for single women now Tai had a more mature and settled air about him. Even if he didn't have a ring he had the air of a married man about him.

He stared out into the ice covered cliffs that the canyon was set in, their ice running down into a small waterfall falling into small lake that Tai was sneaking closer too, his eyes on the water as he pulled one of his boots off, a small grunt escaping him.

He froze as he saw the real beauty of this place though. The vision of death, her beautiful skin seeming unreal in the bright sunlight as she rose from the waters depth, gasping for air Tai didn't understand her need for. Her black hair plastered down her beautiful detailed shoulders as she placed her hands on a small ice island and pulled herself up onto it, her behind landing as she rotated giving Tai an amazing view. He gasped as he rushed to pull his second boot off. Now he needed to get into the water.

Tai watched her as he gently slid his pants off; He was now naked as he cautiously tested the water with a toe, wincing at the chill in it. The sun was shining and warming the ice to melt, Tai begun to plan his trick as Serana leaned her head back, the water streaming down her chest as she rubbed her collar bone. The blood from their battles streamed off her chest, turning the ice she stood on red. Tai opened his mouth in a silent scream as he slipped into the water, instantly beneath it as he took a speedy gulp of air.

Serana stared at where Tai had entered the water. Seeing nothing she shrugged and continued bathing, her eyes still on the water. Tai swum under the ice, his feet hitting the ground beneath as he stood up, his shoulders against the ice as it surrendered to him and lifted. Serana screamed as she slipped onto her belly then into the water, Tai scarcely contained his laughter.

Tai swum beneath her, his shoulders under her knees as he stood up again, dropping Serana head first into the cold water. She still hadn't seen her attacker as she scrambled onto the ice, her eyes pinned where Tai had just been. He had already swum to the other side of the ice as he lifted himself quietly onto the ice, his nose flaring as he snuck up on the panicking Serana.

As she relaxed Tai was just behind her, he grinned as he placed his lips to her neck and bit slightly. Serana screamed loudly. Leaping away like a feral cat with the rage of been attacked flashing in her actions. She believed a vampire had attacked her; she turned to stare at Tai.

"Tai!" She had already found her feet in the icy water as Tai stood laughing.

"Serana?" He acted like nothing wrong had happened.

"Look away! I'm naked!"

"Nothing I haven't seen before" Tai shrugged.

Serana gave Tai a purely wicked look as Tai smiled, brow moving suggestively. Serana chuckled as she vanished beneath the ice. Tai simply dove into the cold water, yelping as the shock as Serana kicked his behind and swum off. Tai chased her with a laugh to where they could stand, water coming to Tai's waist.

"You monster" Tai laughed as Serana grinned.

"You wolf" she replied, her whispering in Tai's ear made him shiver. Serana held the perfect balance of teasing and elegance.

Serana gently wrapped her lips around his ear lobe, pulling back quite weakly as Tai's hands found her waist, holding them firmly yet lovingly. Serana this time bit Tai's ear lobe with a growl and pulled back her fangs drawing a small drop of blood. Tai yelped as he fell back in the water, Serana falling with him with another high pitched yelp as they both fell under the cold water. When they broke the surface Tai gasped, giving Serana a roguish look of his own.

"You, Lady Serana, will pay for that" He hissed impishly, the glint in his eye unmistakable.

"Make me. I beg you" Serana teased. Tai's eyes widened in shock.

"Serana, what happened to you been shy yet loving?" Serana paused at Tai's question.

"I saw you naked… Several times"

I…" Tai blushed. He was not use to blushing. Serana grinned, then kissed his neck gently.

"You said something about making you pay" Tai laughed. Then he dropped her, straight into the freezing water. Serana glared, Tai laughed loudly.

Isran hid in the trees with Sadean, his eyes angry as he watched the Dawnguard champion casually bathing with the enemy. Serana was beautiful, she seemed caring. But she was the enemy, the leader's daughter none the less.

"What do you think?" Isran turned to look to his trainer. Sadean rubbed his scruffy chin, the sunlight shining across his dark brown dreadlocks. His chin was quite pointed, yet was softened by his facial hair. His nose large, his eyes dark and deep. His brow made him appear in his late twenties, when in fact he was ten years older at least.

"I think you're an idiot if you believe that woman doesn't love that man with all her being. She's broken, but Tai has won her. She's a powerful ally; as long as she's with Tai we can use her. If you split them, I don't think anything holds Tai to you, Isran" Sadean looked to Isran with a dead seriousness. Even despite his face looking friendly, he held a strong aura. Fatherly almost.

"I want her gone. I won't have a damn vampire in my home"

"Isran. You're an idiot. Keep her at arm's length, but for Stendarr's sake use her. I have more reason to hate Vampires than you, and I find this one acceptable" Sadean was already walking away.

"Think, before you act. I can't save you from everything… Even with my connections to the Dragonborn"

Tai woke to muffled grunts. He turned, staring down Serana who was still asleep in his arms. He looked; somehow he had ended up asleep on the bank from the water. He looked to the bushes as he heard a crack, branches beneath someone's feet. Instantly he shook Serana awake, his hand clasped over her mouth before she could speak.

"Shh" he whispered. Serana nodded, Tai removed his hand. He couldn't hear heartbeats. Tai had his chest almost touching the ground, supporting his weight on his knuckles. Serana had risen, her eyes darting around them. The slight woodlands and the darkness of night were not helping their cause.

"Vampires?" Serana whispered harshly. Tai looked, he was again afraid. He counted in his head, the pressure, the time and the sudden crowded sense in the air. He sniffed, inhaling several scents. Tai knew his hearts pounding was drawing them to him, his location. They had nothing on Serana, only on him. Tai looked to her, then to the water.

"Get out of here" Tai whispered in a soft growl. Serana shook her head, her fingers digging into the dirt beneath her.

"No"

"Serana… trust me" Tai looked at her pleadingly. He could faintly see her expression, her bright eyes dimming. She nodded. Tai sighed as Serana began to creep slowly back, sliding down the dirt and grass towards the icy water.

Tai closed his eyes. The footsteps were skilled, light but weighed down. These vampires had come with a purpose, and Serana was the only thing he could think of.

He rose swiftly, standing tall as he laid eyes on the first vampire. He launched thoughtlessly, growling as his hands closed around the prey's neck. He twisted, it cracked. Tai hated his mindset of the cold killer but right now it was the only thing protecting Serana.

The vampire struck him in the gut, neck broken but it was still alive. Tai continued beating down, thoughtlessly attacking the vampire. He wanted attention, every vampire's attention. He felt the scratches down his back, he now wrestled two vampires. They were not going for the kill shot, they were distracting him.

"Tai!" Serana's scream broke his battle haze.

"Serana!" Tai turned his back on the enemy, running towards Serana's voice.

The blinding pain that burned through Tai was one of the worst he had ever felt. He gasped, then screamed loudly. He felt himself fall to his knees, his back sticky with his own blood. He gaped, his mouth opening and closing. His hands fell into the dirt before him, his fingers clawed. He would not die like this.

The vampire he had left standing stood before him, its shadow consuming Tai. He looked up, his jaw clenched into the eyes of the vampire then to the knife in its hand. Tai growled in pain as the knife was driven into his shoulder. Next Tai was given a shallow gash down his chest, then another, and another.

"Molag Bal says hello" The vampire leered as Tai shuddered, his eyes raised to the moon. He struggled, he was feeling so dim, his heart was beating so hard he could hear each beat like a strike on a drum. It set a beat as Tai rose, his eyes flashing to the flesh passing him.

Tai ducked the next swing; his hands closed around the vampires arm and broke it. The vampire screamed as Tai drove its own blade into its eye. Tai didn't grant a death to the creature, he simply ran. Serana's screams were still calling to him.

Tai saw her, tied to a horse. The creature had several lengths on him, the vampires were riding harshly. Tai bolted; his body was burning with pain, his breath catching in his chest. Still he ran.

"Serana!" Tai yelled again, feeling the mist fall from his body. He screamed loudly as he ran, his transformation was the most painful since his first. Tai couldn't stop; his paws hit the ground and aroused new hope within him. Tai picked up the pace, the pain from his human injuries was nothing.

His feet were on the path, closing the distance. The horses were almost to the cave, if Tai could run just that touch faster. A few more strides, a stretch and…

Tai felt his entire body tackled, throwing him painfully down the path and into a large boulder. Even in wolf form he yelped, the crack through him was nothing like he had felt in his life. He panted, his tongue hanging from his jaws as he regained his balance, then turned his eyes to his attacker.

"Brand!"