The banners blew gently with the breeze, huge black hands that dominated the old damp cobblestone walls, moth-eaten and discolored, they were long past their best; all except the black hand itself which resembled that of the door they just passed through, as deep and dark as anything he had seen before.
Babette took a few steps in before pausing a moment to sniff the air, tilting her head back slightly.
"Somethings wrong" she exhaled, racing down the hall she had turned the sharp corner long before Sten's less acute senses gave him a clue; the unnatural stench of burning flesh, a smell he took no pleasure in recognizing. He wasn't sure if Babette was brave; or if her centuries on Nurn had made her ignorant. But regardless he followed her deeper into the darkness unsure what he would discover.
The powerful roars of flames echoed throughout the halls, with the intermittent crackle of flesh and wood mix in between. Taking a steadying breath he continued down the steps carefully to make as little noise as he could. The entrance hall was empty. Shelves filled to the brim with old books, scrolls and what could only be trophies of the dead stood flat against the wall on his right. A desk full of open parchments and maps was to his left, an open door further behind the desk revealed a fireplace down to its burning embers; a single corpse lay just before it. The corpse seemed to be missing some body parts, the dark brown padded armour darker still soaked in blood still wet.
"HE~!" The shout took his attention. The woman's voice cuts off before she could finish. Sten followed the noise, starting his way down another set of stairs against all his instincts to run away from what he was sure would be his death.
"It's the she witch. Finally!" Another armored stranger said causing all but one in the room to unsheath their swords. This was as far as he could go without being spotted, hugging the wall at the bottom of the stairway hidden in the dark he could see most the whole room. It was large open cavern, two rock pillars stood tall for support, to his left a small wrecked forgery, to his right a huge set of stairs which atop stood a large domineering figure dressed as befitting someone of importance; they stood looking at an alcove decorated with ancient Nord wall carvings of dragons at which the base of sat a fiercely burning pyre, wood and bodies indistinguishable from one another in the fires scorching haze.
"You were expecting me then, I hope you made some tea," Babette said bold as brass, she had one foot in a pool that was fed by a small waterfall pouring from underneath of an impressive crystal Muriel. Sten looked at the muriel for a moment and studied it, the skull almost spoke to him, feeling its gentle touch Sten broke away and focused back on Babette. She held a man full grown in one arm, emptying his blood into the once clear pool with a sadistic smile across her face.
"I give you this offering this. The first of many you shall taste on this night." Her gaze focused on Muriel, unconcerned with her many assailants slowly surrounding her as she spoke.
"This will be your last night, if one brave man has to die to be rid of you and yours, then so be it. He will rejoice in sovinguard while you burn forever in oblivion" The figure atop the stairs began to descend he was the only one yet to draw his weapon; a huge battle axe strapped to his back which looked almost as tall as he was.
"My brothers and sisters were strong ... but they were mear mortals, now you face an immortal. I wouldn't be so confident if I were you" she dropped the body where she stood leaving it to float in the darkening pool, the room seemed to get smaller as the soldiers started to close in around her and even yet she didn't show any concern, instead she slowly stepped the pool and just stood there as the pink water dripped from her garb.
"I suppose it's time to see. Bitch" there were more than a dozen opponents, loosely packed in a semi-circle around her, all waiting for another to make the first move. ... and then with a yell of inspiration one did, a young man took two quick paces to close the distance with his sword in the air. Then the gentle clunk of metal striking rock as the sword dropped to the ground ... a large splash and spray as the man joined his comrade floating face down in a lake of red
"Two" Babette said in the smug tone she had perfected over the last three hundred years. Next, an arrow came whistling towards her, its origins out of Sten's view but that was no issue for Babette to dodge. Another fool charge and another two arrows flew through the air and struck. The man she held at arm's length went limp and as she tossed him to the side the two arrows could be seen protruding from his back. More arrows flew overhead only to strike the cavern wall behind her. Her face showed annoyance as she picked up the two swords from the ground; of which were made for a man grown and flung them one after the other clear across cavern so fast they could bearly be seen. Two men screamed in pain. Sten could not see whether they stuck at blade point or its pomal but he knew there was little likelihood anyone would be aiming another arrow at her again for a while.
"I guess the stories are true, well some of them at least; I always thought of you as whore who preys on the kindness of those around you to get what you want" With a strong pull, the huge battle axe was unsheathed and lay relaxed in one hand if he had no intention of using it.
"... Five. Want to make it a fair six?" she asked cocking her head slightly just to tease with a simple smile. The brute of a man bent down and placed his axe on the ground.
"You may be immortal, but that doesn't mean you don't bleed." The soldiers started to back off keeping one eye on Babette but having a fixed interest on their commander seeming to know what was going to happen next. He let out a low fierce growl as his face began to change, become longer and harsher. Hair began to sprout all over his body. Babette took a defensive step back, her claws grew and with a hiss showed her fangs. All his body had twisted and stretched in unnatural ways leaving nothing of his human side, shaggy fur covering its whole body a deep shade of brown with claws and fangs as long as any beast he had seen before
"Dog!, You won't be the first nor the last of your kind to fall at my feet" Babette screamed. Sten could feel something tighten within himself at the sight and smell of the beast as if all his instincts were shouting out, both terrified and furious at its presence. Babette glanced over at Sten and he could see unbridled rage within her. The soldiers had spread out almost creating an arena for them to fight knowing only one would live.
With the last echoing roar and childish scream, they rushed one another clashing with such force Sten could feel the vibrations through the wall. The soldiers shouted and cheered the beast on even as Babette twisted out of the creature's grasp and snuck underneath its guard ripping chunks of fur and flesh out of its underbelly; but that didn't last long as the beast took advantage of its size ripping Babette from underneath itself in one hand before raising her high and slamming her into the rocks below cracking the solid stone.
Babette made no noise, whether that was a ploy or because she was unconscious Sten couldn't tell. The beast took this time to look at its ripped wounds, although not fatal Babette had done much in the short amount of time she had. The Beast turned its attention back to Babette, picking her up by her clothes like a child, she made no reaction. The beast took a moment to relish the moment that it would kill the great vampire Babette. But that was a mistake. She sprung back to life and twisted her body and clamped her fangs down into the beast's forearm that even Sten could hear the sound of bones breaking. The beast roared in pain and swung its arm back and forth while trying to rip her off of it arm with the other. Babette rolled on the ground and quickly stood back up. She had the advantage and wasn't going to let it go to waist, she raised both hands as an emanating red surge left her hands, the magic began to drain the beast of its strength forcing the beast to its knees.
Another soul to join Sithis in the void. Her head hardly made a wave after it was separated from her body to join those in the pool of red behind her. Her body stood in place for a moment before seeming to burn itself to a pile of ash from within. The Silver blade had but one single drop of blood running down its length. The soldier holding the blade raised it to the air and cheered, quickly joined by those around him.
Sten could hardly breathe, the soldiers were still distracted and he knew he had to take the chance to escape before he met the same fate. He would run if he dear but feared to bring attention to himself so he snuck back the way he came. Turning the corner his new vampire speed was the only thing that stopped Sten from running straight into a descending soldier, his sword already drawn, a face just as terrified as Sten himself. Sten grabbed the soldier by the chest twisting him around and throwing him down the stairs with a loud commotion as Sten now began to sprint for the big black door.
Sten only stopped for a heartbeat as he chose which way to turn, the air was still cool but dawn would be over him soon and Sten knew nothing of this area, his only option was the mountains to try and find shelter there. With no time to waste, he dashed into motion and began to run north-west as quick as he could. He hit the tree line and felt just a little safer knowing he had got away, but then he smelt something ... Humans. Before he could even think it was already too late, he felt an immense grip take hold of him, but this was no physical hold, but that of the arcane arts. Sten strained every muscle in his body hoping to break free but it was no use.
"Where are you going ?" The voice came first, then the figure stepped out from behind a tree one arm outstretched surrounded by a magical aura. His captor.