Chapter 31 – In Motion

"I hate the waiting. The goddamn waiting"
-Quote, Soldier

Tai groaned as he woke. His head was pounding, his vision slightly blurred and his bones aching like his dream had been forced. He blinked. It had been as real as life, he could still smell the room. Taste his own blood from Serana biting his lip, he could feel her beneath his fingers. It only strengthened his resolve.

He shot to his feet, ignoring his pain and almost bolted for the armoury. He was not in the mood to wait, the sun was not even up and already Tai felt the pulse through his veins. The journey to Solitude would take a while, especially with an army but he didn't care. His blood was on fire with excitement. He would finally kill Harkon. In just a few days it would be over and he would finally be free. He could go and hide with Serana someplace beautiful and live out his days.

But that was just another dream.

"No!" Serana yelled as Malketh gazed at her with a raised brow. His smile was unsettling, his intentions unclear but his torture was absolute. He was hurting Serana, she didn't know if it was benefiting her though.

"How a monster finds someone so warm, it's hard to believe isn't it?" he questioned. Serana looked at him, her eyes rolling in her head. Malketh sighed.

"I was a new assassin for the Dark Brotherhood, Z was watching me. I wondered how a girl half my age could be valued above me, then I was sentenced to do a mission with her. I met my wife that mission, I saw a new side to Z too. I wondered how a monster could have ruined my wife's life, and split her from her friend's family with a scam. So I was permitted to kill the bastard, I enjoyed it. Then Z told me there was a second kill, the friend's sister to make Tova realise her mistake. Z was quick, efficient and the girl was at peace before she died. Z was a strange one, and I was freed from the Brotherhood to peruse my personal life as long as I was an informant. Then I tried to sneak into here, and was captured. Now, I have to do this or lose the woman I love. The only thing between me and becoming a monster is her life. Something so frail, something so weak and yet it holds too much power" Malketh trailed off. His eyes were distant, honestly hurt even. Serana couldn't hold her eyes to his, they were painful, she wanted to see Tai.

"If you harm him…" Serana hissed.

"Even now. No concern for your life, it's all for him" Malketh smiled, it was strangely warm.

"He's bright. I'm dead" she growled.

"He's your heart, as you are his. So why are you not warning him?" Serana was unable to reply as she was thrown into a memory world again. A dream world, this one was not kind.

Tai fell to his knees gasping for a moment; the rush of fear through him was so intense he felt himself fading. Z was crouching beside him in an instant. Tai looked up to her with desperation.

"That wasn't me" he sighed, rising to his feet. His eyes flamed with panic as he looked to Z. her eyes were knowing as Farkas wondered around the corner, his hair was spun to look like Tai's. He was wearing paint to make him look like Tai also, as well as been completely shaved. Without the hair down his chest Farkas looked incredibly toned, each of his muscles stood out as did a few scars.

"Now I enjoy that view" Z grinned at Farkas. He looked miserable.

"It's cold" he grumbled. Z wrapped her arms around him gently; Tai averted his eyes feeling a churning in his stomach.

"I'll keep you warm" Z started, Farkas leaned down to kiss her but Z's finger caught over his lips.

"After we win this" she finished. Farkas nodded and tossed Z into Tai.

"Get her scent on you" Farkas mumbled bitterly. Z began running her hands down Tai as he shook.

"What?"

"Tai. If you two smell different, this won't work. I hate this too, but you're going to be a cow and Farkas is going to be the real you" Z explained, stepping back and sniffing.

"Not enough Z. You need to be all over him" Farkas mumbled. Z looked to him darkly.

"I refuse to sleep with him. I'm sorry, but if I have to betray you for this then I'll go in alone" Z was furious as she stormed to face Farkas. Tai closed his eyes as they argued quietly; it was Farkas who lost the argument as Z wondered back to Tai she slapped him with a piece of her clothing.

"Put it down your loincloth" Z ordered coolly. Tai stared; it was a strip of her underclothing. He looked to the glaring Farkas and Z in utter shock. Farkas' jaw was clenched, his eyes slightly blood shot. Z was also tense, hiding her rage better. Tai shook, staring at the cloth in confusion.

"Since Farkas and I sleep together, you need to have that scent on you to pull this off. Since I won't cheat on my husband, my dirty underwear will have to suffice. I already stole some of Serana's. Farkas has the scent, and your armour. I'll explain the rest along the way" Z had already turned away; Tai shuddered as Farkas snatched the cloth.

Wordlessly he pulled Tai's belt forwards and stuffed his hand down Tai's pants. Tai stood with a colourless face as Farkas tied the cloth in the exact place required, which Tai was less than thrilled with. He would not have minded Serana in his pants, but his brother down them was a little creepy even for Tai.

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Serana kept her head hung as she heard footsteps. She had lost track of how long she had been in the dungeon. All she knew was Tai was out there, alive and she was putting him in danger thanks to Malketh. She couldn't hate the man despite it all, he twisted everything into pain but somehow she felt he was only using her as a messenger, he had bigger plans.

She had been left alone for a while now, the sounds of vampires feeding on the human prisoners referred to as cows made Serana sick and hungry at the same time. They talked quietly among themselves but never to her. No one but Malketh or her father even acknowledged her existence.

"Get off me!" A woman's cry came along with the sound of dragging feet. Serana looked up for a moment, the woman was a Breton. Deep skinned, rounded face with small plump lips and heart melting eyes. She had green face paint on her highlighting her cheeks.

"Shut up" One of the vampires grunted and slapped the woman. She was chained next to Serana, still struggling as Serana coughed and hissed. Once she was chained she was kicked once in the gut.

"Leave her alone!" Serana snarled thoughtlessly. The vampires glared at her, then stormed out.

"What have they done to you?" Serana turned her head to ask the woman. She paused, noticing the woman was very pregnant. She closed her eyes; the vampires had kicked a pregnant woman. She could still hear a heartbeat as the woman sobbed, her tears streaming down her face paint. Serana looked, her eyes soft.

"Your child is still alive" she whispered. The woman sniffed.

"T..Thank you"

"My name is Serana. What's yours?" Serana spoke softly and calmly, the smell of blood made her stomach rumble but she refused to be driven into a frenzy.

"Muiri. My name is Muiri" The woman turned her head after a few minutes to look at Serana. Instantly she cried out in fear. The colour drained from her face.

"Yo..yo…you.. one of them" She stuttered. Serana let tears fall from her eyes.

"I am the Lord's daughter. I work to stop him. I… I lost someone close to me when they kidnapped me, I'm not even sure how he is fairing anymore"

"My husband, he was turned. Now he can't escape, they took me and brought me here" Muiri explained. She then continued explaining for another hour.

Tai groaned as Z tied his hands behind his back roughly. He couldn't break the bonds. The wind bit at him as his clothes were cut and torn, Farkas smeared dirt and blood down him in select locations. Tai was shivering, night had almost come and the setting sun sent shudders down Tai's back. He felt the energy between Z and Farkas; they were buzzing much like Tai was. Somehow Z was wild, but Farkas was controlled. He wondered on their relationship. They were aggressive, yet somehow the complete opposites made an inseparable couple.

"Are you kidding me?" Tai groaned as Z rested the dagger to his hairline. She made a tiny gash, one that Tai disapproved of vocally. The wind stung it, coming from the sea. It had been three days, he had not been allowed to change or bathe in those days. He stunk, his scent was repulsive even to his nose.

"Now, Malketh captured you and you have been fighting ever since. He's going to give you the thoughts, stay strong" Z ordered as a pair of glowing eyes approached. Tai snarled at her, more irritation than threatening. Z grinned, as did Farkas.

"Relax. In and out before you know it" Farkas reassured as a pair of hands closed around Tai's wrists. He naturally threw his head back, bloodying the vampire's nose.

"Z. My wife…" Malketh started. Z nodded.

"We'll find her" she whispered placing a hand on Malketh's shoulder. The vampire was crying as he raised his eyes to Z, Tai stopped struggling against his instincts as he saw the vampires face. He was doing this for love, Tai swallowed. He could respect the vampire, that didn't mean he liked him.

"My lord. I have a nice new volunteer for our halls, well, maybe not an easy one. I have the man that has plagued your daughter" Malketh boomed as he entered the hall, Tai hung his head and spat a weak curse. Malketh was dragging the man who he forced to kneel. Tai groaned as his head was yanked backwards by a clawed hand. The vampire's gloves and metal claws were unpleasant.

"Go to oblivion you damn illness" Tai yelled as Harkon wondered to stare him in the face. Tai struggled but upon catching Harkon's eyes he stopped. Tai loathed the man's very existence. Harkon knew it.

"I see the boy has matured. Lock him up, allow my daughter to say her goodbyes" As Harkon ordered this two vampires grabbed Tai and began yanking him off. Malketh stood, head bowed to Harkon. He despised this but he played the part well. Harkon smiled.

"Follow them. Your reward is waiting. It is my prisoner but it may be let off its chain. It cannot escape anyway" the way Harkon said this sent a chill to Malketh's gut.

"No" he whispered desperately then walked at a brisk pace towards the dungeon.

Tai felt his feet dragging against the ground as he was lifted from his arms. His shoulders ached like his arms would be torn from his body. His gut was knotted, holding himself tense yet dropping his weight. He was playing his part well; the vampires could barely move him into the cell. He was blindfolded again, but he could hear the heartbeats around him were weak and fluttering. Other human prisoners. The ground smelt like stale urine and sweat; it brought a foul taste to Tai's mouth. What he smelt though among it all was the sweet lack of scent.

"Serana" he mumbled, then faded from a blow to the back of the head.

"Enough!" Serana yelled as the guards knocked the prisoner out. It was Tai, but he stunk like Z. Serana felt rage boiling in her blood as the scent hit her nose. It had taken a few days for Z to leap on Tai, trap him in his grief. Maybe Tai had cheated. Serana couldn't face the thought as Malketh stormed into the prison.

"Muiri!" He screamed. The vampire lost himself as he fell to his knees before the woman. He had torn his gloves off to reveal strong, black smith hands. He began to tear as he leaned his forehead into hers whispering it was ok as she began sobbing again. Serana watched as his left hand rested on her belly, his right caressing her cheek as he kissed her forehead and continued trying to comfort his wife.

"Maybe now, you will be more devoted to the cause" Harkon's words held only one meaning.

Z walked through the doors quite casually, dressed in her leather and masked yet she held an undeniable sex appeal in her cat like movements. She almost seemed bored as she dragged Farkas along on a chain leading to a collar. Farkas himself was stumbling in a pair of sack pants, messed up to look like he himself had been trapped.

"There has been a mistake" Z spoke calmly as she threw Farkas on his knees before Harkon.

"This, pathetic man, is Tai. Now return my husband" Z commanded the attention of every vampire in the room. Harkon looked almost amused as he looked to his left.

"Why would the great Listener be involved in this?"

"Simple. I prefer my husband in my arms, instead of on a vampires fangs. As for whatever you've planned, I find my experience with vampires more pleasant than most. Given my position, peace is the best course of action for all parties concerned"

"And what if I disagree?" Harkon was still amused. Z gave him her cool look as she flicked a small smile. The room was suddenly cooler, even the vampires felt it.

"You do not want to make an enemy of me Harkon" She whispered, the vampires shuddered. Harkon leaned back in his chair, nodding with a smile. He hid well how the human had shaken him.

"My lord! Lock them all away! They plan to betray you!"