HeidiFox: Maybeeeee, maybeeeee not. Just going to have to wait until Vincent comes clean about his past. And Yes. I have played Dawngaurd. I may make mention of it in the story.
TeB360: I'm glad you liked it dear. I do have a bad habit of not finishing stories once I start them but I have a definite end planed for Wolves and Magic. I will do my best to keep it going.
Shrimpeater: heh, yes he is. VERY close. This follows the plot line of the companion's quest for the most part. There will obviously be some differences but it mostly remains the same. Glad my grammar errors don't bother anyone too much. OVO. I'm bound to make more and more of them so thanks for everyone who's sticking with me.
Guest: Sorry, not quite. I tend to drag things out.
Kogouma: Aye, working on it~; D
Eragon5hadeslayer: O/o Reallllly? Well I'm…very flattered to say the least. I'm glad you love Vincent so much! It means a lot to me really! I'm not that good of an artist but I'm glad you enjoyed the picture. I may surprise everyone with what's really up with Vincent. I have a few curve balls left in the plot. If you keep giving me lengthy Reviews consider yourself one of my favorites! P.S: Soon.
UGH! I want to write dragon age fan fiction, Assassin's creed and I already have a sequel story planned once Wolves and Magic is done! Meeeeeh. I tend to get too distracted writing more then one story at once so I'm going to wait until Wolves and Magic is done before starting another.
On another note, I was planning on having mature content in this chapter. There is going to be death, swearing and graphic imagery. So…warning ahead of time. Kay? Also, making a lot of shit up in this chapter. The word of the day is Suppress.
Oh and when I was playing this quest in Skyrim with my Vincent Renalt character, the door at the way start that is supposed to be barred, glitches and opened. The bar was still in the way but I easily jumped over it and Aela just kind of teleported when I found Skjor. So…long quest was finished quickly and there was many a lol to be had.
Chapter 10- Easy as Alive
This is the moment
Where the Gods expect me to beg for help.
But I won't even try.
I want nothing in the world but myself
To protect me
And I want to lie down
Roll over and die
-Adia (Broadway show) -Easy as Alive
Vincent decided that he liked waking up next to Vilkas. His eyes had opened first, surprisingly. He expected to at least sleep until noon due to the amount of alcohol he had induced the previous night at his coronation. It took his slightly hazy brain a moment to realize where he was and why he felt so warm. He was curled up against Vilkas' body with the Nord's arms around him.
With some difficulty due to being pressed tightly against Vilkas' chest (not that he minded) he managed to lift his head to look at the sleeping Nord's face. His expression was relaxed as he breathed evenly, evidence of an easy sleep. Vincent took the rare moment to marvel his features and take in every curve. He was handsome, Vincent concluded. Very Handsome. It was sometimes hard to tell because he usually wore an angry scowl or a mask of bitter indifference. Vincent wanted to reach out and touch his face but also didn't want to wake him. This was most likely a very rare sight and he decided to take full advantage of it.
Vilkas had a scholars look about him. He was manly but still possessed a slightly nerd-like edge to his features. His brother, at quick glace seemed rough weathered in his features, despite them being twins. Vincent had seen Vilkas wield a two handed broad sword so he knew the man wasn't weak like most scholars. He might just spend more time reading and less time fighting. He could defiantly hold his own and Vincent had no doubts about that. His lashes were not too long but long enough to rest against his cheeks as he slept. Vincent often cursed his own long lashes. They often got in his eyes and in his opinion, made him look entirely too girly for his liking.
His lips were thinner then most Nord's he encountered and his features were much softer. When Vincent had first arrived in Skyrim, among the first Nord's he'd met looked more like cavemen. They had been bandits and Vincent had put them in their place of course.
Vincent sighed and stared back down at Vilkas' chest, satisfied with the observations he had made. He'd never really pictured himself with a man like Vilkas…or really anyone for that matter. He felt…happy. True, he was always trying to be optimistic but it had been a long time since he had been truly happy. His marred hand lifted slightly and he gazed at the jagged burns that tarnished his pale flesh. He thought of Grace and wondered if he had any right to be happy. She would have wanted him to and made him promise as much… But he couldn't help but feel guilty. Gods above, he missed her.
He felt Vilkas stir and put his hand back down quickly and sure enough those icy blue eyes slowly cracked open and peered about quickly. A predator's eyes…always looking for danger even in its own den. Then they fell on Vincent and the spark of recognition flared in his sharp yet sleep filled hues.
"Hi." Vincent started awkwardly with a silly smile. He'd never really woken up beside anyone other then family before.
"Hi." Vilkas stated back, his voice slightly husky from sleep. Vincent would have lied if he said he didn't like the sound.
He almost blushed right there but decided to hide his face in Vilkas' chest instead. He breathed in deep on instant and took in Vilkas' scent. He smelt like sweat, snow, musk and slightly of dog. Despite the dog part, Vincent found the smell pleasing. He ran one of his marred hands through the hair on Vilkas' chest and pressed closer to him if possible.
"Do I stink?" Vilkas asked, slight amusement adding itself to his voice.
"No. I like this smell."
"You like Nord smell?" Vilkas scoffed and he put a hand in Vincent's hair. "You'd be the first outside our race. Farkas will be thrilled to hear it."
"Not Nord smell." Vincent turned his copper eyes up to meet icy blue ones. "Just yours. You smell different then most."
"Withdrawn. Farkas will not be thrilled." He detangled himself from Vincent's frame and sat up in bed, stretching. Vincent secretly missed the warmth. "If you want to smell bad Nord smell, go sniff Farkas in the morning. When we were younger I woke up to his pits in my face before. Gods awful."
Vincent laughed and gazed up at his form, admiring how his muscles moved as he stretched. He mentally cursed himself for feeling like a thirteen year old girl, fawning over the boy she liked. Seriously? What was wrong with him? He'd never behaved this way before…He shook his head and sat up too.
"You have a big day today." Vilkas spoke looking at the wall and his tone suddenly becoming deadpanned.
Vincent rolled his eyes. Here we go… "Everything will be fine Vilkas. Skjor and Aela wouldn't let anything happen to me."
Vilkas' head suddenly whirled in his direction and glared at him. "Say again?"
Great…. "Vilkas. Stop. We've gotten over that. Let it go."
"How can you let it go? They almost killed you."
"It was not intentional and they apologized for hurting me. It's over and I'm fine Vilkas. Let's not get into this again."
He could tell Vilkas was about to protest so he decided to silence him. He grabbed hold of Vilkas' face and planted a kiss on his open mouth. It only took a moment for the anger to fade from Vilkas' face as he pressed back into it. Well, that worked. Perhaps he should try it more often when they fight. He was sure a whole other argument about how 'Magic is evil and only corrupts' would come up again sooner or later. Perhaps that'd be a good way to defuse that situation.
When Vincent pulled away, he laughed as Vilkas followed closely after his retreat and pressed their mouths together again.
"H-hey…" The mage tried to protest and managed to free his mouth from Vilkas'. He took to an elbow as he leaned back further to escape. Not that he really wanted to but he did have something to do today. Unchecked, he could stay in here with Vilkas for hours, doing…things. His face reddened just thinking about it. Vilkas didn't say a word at Vincent's second attempt at retreating. A low growl escaped his throat and a shiver rippled down Vincent's spine like lighting. He could feel the heat rushing other places then his face at that growl.
'Seriously?! A Growl?! A growl has you all hot and bothered?! Grow up, Vincent Renalt!'
Although it was a rather sexy sounding growl, he had to admit. Great, now he's arguing with himself. Vilkas did not seem contented to leave Vincent with his thoughts and ended up attacking Vincent's lips with his own again, thus ending any internal conflict the mage was having.
Vincent was closest to the wall on Vilkas' bed so there was only so far he could lean back from the hunter. At least he had no fear of toppling off the other side. Sure enough, Vincent found himself pressed against the bed with Vilkas' weight atop him. Trapped easily. He wasn't very good prey, it seemed. He chuckled against Vilkas' mouth and pushed on his chest lightly.
He seemed to at least gotten a reaction out of Vilkas with the push. "Hum?" The Nord questioned, in more of a grunt then an actual response.
"Shouldn't we be getting up?" Vincent smiled serenely up at him. Vincent didn't mean it as so but the statement may have come out more cynical then suggestive. Why'd he always have to be a wise ass? He was prepared for a scowl but was quite pleased when a small smile appeared on Vilkas' face.
"In a while." he spoke softly briefly before their lips connected again.
Vincent managed to full himself away after a time with much needed effort and a little extra embarrassment. Gods knew he'd been perfectly content with Vilkas all day but he was trying to repair some damaged bridges with his fellow circle mates. It's really the only reason he agreed to go on this 'hunt'. He didn't even like hunting. Killing for survival and food was one thing but killing for sport, just seemed wrong to him. Once quickly washed and dressed in his normal attire, he set about his routine for today at least. He knew he'd be traveling by day so he put on the cream so he wouldn't burn his skin. He could feel his stomach starting to burn and knew it was only a matter of time before a coughing fit started.
He checked his knapsack while Vilkas went off to bathe. He didn't like taking his medicine in front of Vilkas. He could feel an eye of scrutiny whenever he did and he knew Vilkas was curious about it. Vincent just…wasn't ready to tell him. Not until he knew how Vilkas would react. Part of him knew that he would never know exactly how Vilkas would react and that he was just stalling out of fear.
'I really like Vilkas. I don't want him to run away.'
At least that's what Vincent told himself. Vilkas didn't seem the type that would run from anything though. Push it away, yes, but he had yet to do so to Vincent. Maybe he had tried in the beginning, but those were weak attempts. Vilkas seemed ready to move forward and yet Vincent was not convinced.
"Someday soon." He muttered on his breath as he dug through his vials and reagents. He popped the lid off one and drank down the foul tasting elixir. He almost gagged at the stench and the burn it left down his throat. Yet the burn in his stomach settled and he smiled slightly pained in relief. He wondered sometimes if this was all worth it but knew deep down that it was.
He recapped the vial and placed it aside and then he took stock of what he had left. Two vials left and not enough ingredients to make more. The two left would at least last him the week and while out on the hunt he could try to find the missing ingredients for a fresh batch. All that Nirnroot he'd gotten had helped though and as soon as he found the last few key ingredients, he'd have enough to make a months worth, at least.
Vincent closed his bag and left it aside. He knew Vilkas would respect his privacy and not pry through his things…at least for now. Not that Vilkas seemed to know what all the ingredients did anyway, nor did Vincent have anything really incriminating on his person.
Vincent managed to find a looking glass and once deciding that he looked presentable, went out in search of Skjor and Aela. Vilkas finally managed to locate Aela in the courtyard. They had possibly told him were to meet up last night but he had been far too drunk to remember. All he remembered is that is was supposed to be early. Now mid-day, he had dropped the ball on that one.
Aela was alone in the courtyard, waiting for Vincent to show up by the looks of it. She had her arms crossed and when she spotted him walking from across the yard, a slightly coy smile appeared on her face.
"Good afternoon Vincent. You're late."
"Yes, I apologize."
Her smile widened knowingly. "Vilkas kept you distracted?"
Vincent felt his face heat up quickly. "H-how did you…?"
She pointed to his neck and Vincent's gaze flickered down. The top button of his coat and shirt were open and little red marks ran up his neck and collarbone before vanishing below his shirt line. HOW THE HELL HAD HE MISSED THOSE?! He let out an involuntary squawk of indignation and pulled the top of his coat and shirt closed. By the way she was smiling, he sure the ones high in his neck must still be slightly visible. Damnit, Vilkas!
He pouted at her. "Where is Skjor?" He decided to change the subject.
"Well, since you were so late he went to go scout out the area that we will be going. We'll make it there before the sun sets." she dusted herself off and looked the mage over. "Are you armed?"
"I have a mace, yes." Rarely used but it was on his person. He could feel the tell-tale weight of the cumbersome object in his coat.
"Good. You'll need it. Let's be off."
He followed her out of Whiterun and down the large hill the city sat atop. He walked with her in silence for a few hours, only stopping to watch her shoot wolves and other unsightly creatures. He mentioned he could help her and she just chuckled.
"Wait for tonight. Save your energy."
He began to wonder just what he was going to be hunting… Whatever it was, he had a bad feeling that he wasn't going to like it one bit. Maybe it was a bear…A BIG ass bear. It would have to be large if Aela and Skjor wanted to hunt it. Vincent knew bears were dangerous but he found wildlife rather cute. The wolves, bears, foxes, rabbits, deer….mammoths… They were all cute in their own way. Then again, Vincent had always had a soft spot for animals and children. Innocent creatures all softened his heart. Although the only wildlife here that seemed friendly were the deer, rabbits and foxes. Everything else seemed out to get him.
"So, Vincent." Aela began walking back a step so she could keep Vincent's pace. "How are things?"
Vincent looked over to her and decided he didn't like her smile. She was obviously prying for information and doing a bad job of it. Skjor must be the smoother talker. He already basically knew what she wanted to know and knew there was no way to avoid telling her. He knew there was no way around it because she would pry until he slipped up, but he decided to play along for now.
"Everything is fine."
"Feeling better?"
"Much. Thank you."
"How are things between you and Vilkas?"
That didn't take her long. He rolled his eyes. "Fine."
"Good." There was a moment of silence between them. The only sound heard was the distant call of a wolf and the sound of the snow crunching beneath their feet. Then she dropped the bomb. "Have you slept with him yet?"
Vincent almost tripped over his own feet but managed to catch himself. He stumbled only slightly but it was enough to make her chuckle at his expense. He whirled his entire body to face her, his cheeks getting slightly red. "Excuse me?"
She kept walking, getting ahead of him easily. "You heard me and keep up pace or we'll never get there."
Vincent snapped out of his daze quickly and jogged to catch up to her again. "It's an odd question to ask out of the blue, Aela."
"Not odd." She looked straight ahead and tapped her chin.
"Yes odd." He corrected with a slight scowl. "It's really none of your business."
"Don't be such a prude, Vincent." He heard her chuckle. "Sex is a natural thing and it's only natural to give in."
"You sound like a mother trying to give her son a sex talk."
She shrugged his comment off. "So be it. Out with it."
"No. Not yet." He gave in to her wish and huffed. They had come close today. The memory of Vilkas' warm hands and mouth still lingered in the back of his consciousness and it made him shudder at the thought. His hot mouth licking and nipping at his neck while both of his big hands were threaded in his crimson red hair. Their clothed hips had clashed together in a frenzy, desperate for more tight friction. Vilkas had made the most amazing thick husky growl sounds that nearly made Vincent come undone… Yet, Kodlak coughing up a lung, not even a room away put a damper on their fervor. They had both stopped moving abruptly with the reminder of how easy it would be to have someone walk in on them. When it did happen, Vincent wanted it to be in private. It was an intimate moment he planned on sharing with the other man and those where best done behind closed doors.
"Really?" She asked pulling him out of his thoughts. "I'm…surprised."
He walked a bit faster to walk side by side with her. "Surprised? How so?"
"Vilkas already marked you for a mate. I just assumed."
"I see."
"I figured he would have held you down and dominated you already. I'm honestly surprised at him."
Vincent sputtered at her boldness. "I don't think this is very appropriate conversation to be having about Vilkas!"
"I think it's rather appropriate. He's like a blood brother to me and I worry about him. It is not good for him to suppress his sexual desire like that." Vincent felt his face heating up again and his hid face in his hands. He trusted Aela not to lead him into a tree as she continued. "His wolf is already gnawing at the bit to be let out. If he keeps suppressing the beast and his primal desires he's most likely going to hurt himself."
"Aela…"
"And now that he's marked you as a mate…"
"Aela…"
"…It's going to be harder for him…"
"Please stop…"
"…and for you." She added with a nudge and a smirk which made him feel like he wanted to die. This was so Gods Damn embarrassing.
Then again, he really shouldn't be surprised about how blunt she was. The woman was barely wearing a shirt, after all. She was close to the beast and he wouldn't be surprised to find out that she delved into the more primal instincts. She thankfully dropped the subject for now and continued walking in silence.
He starred at her back as he thought about what she said. He didn't know too much about werewolves. He only knew the essentials. How to kill them, the mating marks, the disease itself and how it's normally contracted… Nothing about their actual mating habits or how being a werewolf can affect one's psyche. Was Vilkas hurting himself by holding the wolf back so much?
"Aela?"
"Yes, Vincent?"
"Is it really hurting him?" The joking was done now. Vincent's voice was edged with deep rooted concern for the other man's well being and he knew that Aela knew it. Her smile was gone when she looked over her shoulder to make eye contact.
"It's different for each one of us. Personally, I need those primal instincts. I am close to my wolf and we are like one. Vilkas…" She sighed. "It is different. He suppresses the wolf and bites back anything that may sate the wolf's appetite. I've seen him grit his teeth once or twice in pain. I do think it is taking a toll on his body and mind."
Vincent's heart felt like it jumped up into his throat. "Why would he hurt himself like that?" the words felt cruel and ironic on his own tongue but this was about Vilkas and not himself.
"Pride." Aela answered quickly. "Foolish Nord pride. He thinks suppressing the beast will save his soul from damnation in the afterlife but he is only hurting himself."
"Maybe he hates living as a werewolf." Vincent countered. "The transformations must be just as painful as suppressing."
"To me, no. It is a natural thing and I could not think of living any other way. Vilkas has been what he is long enough to not have these changes hurt anymore. He used to run free and wild with us and he was happy. Then Kodlak filled his head with all that religious Sovngarde nonsense and then he suddenly changes his mind. Even Farkas is starting to suppress, though not as much as Vilkas and Kodlak are."
Vincent sighed. "What can I do to help?"
Aela hummed in thought as she looked off into the distance. "Well…" She began, "There is no help for the old man. There is nothing you could do for him anyway. However, you can help Vilkas."
"Oh yeah? I'm not going to tell him to let the wolf out if that's what you were going to suggest. He doesn't want to and I wont push him to."
"No, no. I'm sure there is currently no way to convince Vilkas otherwise at the moment. However, you can help him keep the wolf sated by helping him with his primal desire."
Why did it always lead back to dirty things? He cursed whichever Gods were making him suffer through such an embarrassing talk.
"Are you sure?" He lifted an eyebrow in doubt.
"Positive. It worked many times for me when I've been in public for long periods of time and couldn't release my beast."
He was almost scared to ask but… "What?"
"Sex, violence, brawls, tussling, dominance, biting, killing something…" She shrugged nonchalantly. "All things that are primal. They help suppress the beast and the hunger it craves. You can help him in such things as only his mate could."
Well, he was only slightly disturbed at the imagery he got and was glad she didn't get too descriptive. He tried not to focus on most of them and Vilkas doing some of…those things…to him. Gods, when did he become such a pervert?
"Thank you Aela. I'll remember that." Unfortunately.
"Glad I could help." She looked up at the sky and grinned. "We are making good time. We will be there within the hour."
Vincent looked up too and saw the sun had begun to set. Had they really been walking for so many hours? The conversation whittled away his awareness of time around him. He really did get too distracted when it came to Vilkas. Not a good habit to fall into.
Within the hour she led him to a small clearing. Up on the hill, a distance away, looked like a fortress. What in Oblivion were they doing here?
She smiled and pointed up to the fortress. "That is Gallows' rock. You've met the Silver Hand, yes?"
"Yeah. They're werewolf hunters, right?"
"Right." She nodded. "We are going to hunt every single one of the bastards down and teach them a lesson."
They were hunting humans…great. Granted it was humans who posed a threat to anyone with the beast blood and Vincent had become so attached to the whole circle he couldn't imagine Jorrvaskr without them. So, it was a good cause at least. From what he saw of these hunters, they cared nothing for humanly killing their prey and they were ready and willing to hurt Vincent even though he wasn't a werewolf.
"Where is Skjor?" He asked as if just noticing for the first time.
She looked around briefly before pointing to tracks in the dirt. "He's inside. Must have charged in ahead." She laughed, almost cruelly. "Those Silver hand might already all be dead! What a shame that'd be for us. Well, let's move. It's getting dark and we can't let Skjor take all the glory!"
She drew her bow and started up the hill. Vincent debated his options and drew his mace as well. He could still cast with his off hand if necessary. The fortress was eerily silent as they approached carefully. Vincent could see fine in the dimming light but Aela had the eyes of a predator. She scanned the battlement before huffing.
"All dead. Damnit, Skjor, leave some for us."
Vincent looked at the front door and felt a chill rush up his spine. Were those…werewolf heads?! How grotesque! Aela noticed his stare and nudged him.
"That's horrific." Vincent finally commented as they approached.
"That's why they need to be hunted. They are nothing but cowardly prey and we, the supreme hunters. Let us teach them what it means to attack one of the companions."
Vincent nodded and walked to the door. It was slightly ajar already, probably from where Skjor smashed through. He'd never really seen Skjor in action but he was sure it was a sight to behold. He glanced behind him at the setting sun and saw dark clouds on the horizon. He wind had suddenly picked up and howled loudly in the cold air. Aela seemed to notice too because she turned and looked as well.
"A storms picking up. We should hurry here and then head back to Jorrvaskr for victory drinks."
They both crept through the open door, careful not to make any noise as they passed the threshold. They crept through the torch lit hall, silent as ghosts, looking for any sign of the liver hand. Vincent was about to ask Aela if they were all dead but she lifted up a linger to her lips before he could form the words. She pointed to a corner of the wall and gestured for him to stand there. He moved to do so and held his mace at the ready.
"I can't believe we lost five men already. Krev will take care of it, I'm sure. Wish I could be there…"
Voices… A male Nord was talking to someone… He heard a female grunt in acknowledgment. Unfortunately from his position on the wall, he was in a blind spot. He couldn't see them and they couldn't see him.
He watched Aela notch an arrow in place and aim. A wicked smile came to her pretty face and she winked at Vincent before she let the arrow fly. A sudden female cry of pain echoed in the chamber, followed by a hollow thud. He heard a male cry of outrage and the sound of a weapon being picked up. Aela took a step back and nodded to Vincent. He suddenly knew why she put him here.
The man walked right past Vincent's hiding spot, focused only on Aela and ending her. It was quick and easy… one single swift shot to the back of this thick skull and he was down. His weapon skidded across the floor and landed at Aela's feet. She glared down at the mocking silver battleaxe and kicked it away like garbage.
"You've got a good arm, Vincent." She complimented as she walked over the dead body of the silver hand and further into the chamber. Vincent politely stepped around the corpses instead of atop them. It had been a Nord woman, who felt the sting of Aela's arrow. It was lodged deeply in her throat with expert precision and she seemed to have died before she even hit the ground.
"Thanks." he paused. "Who's Krev…? Do you know?"
"Krev the skinner. He's one of their so called generals. He's killed a lot of our kind and wears their pelts as trophies. It will be a pleasure ending him…Well, if Skjor hasn't yet."
Vincent noticed a door to the right and tried it. Barred from the other side it seemed. With time, they could break through he was sure but there seemed to be another passage down.
"Silver Hand must have locked the place down once Skjor charged in. Humph. The cowards. Let's continue."
Vincent followed closely but not before giving the entrance chamber one last look around. He could hear the wind outside batter against the walls of the fortress and it filled him with unease. Something was wrong here. Very wrong…
The tunnels seemed to lead down for always. There were dead Silver hand strewn about and dead Skeever too. They eventually made it to a dingy cell area and took in their surroundings. There was a dead Silver Hand at the end of the hall, a tell-tale sign of Skjor being here at one point. Vincent took his time to look in each cell and groaned in displeasure at the dead werewolf bodies.
"Poor Bastards. None that we know by the smell of them." She sighed. "Some can't control the gift and become savage. There is no help for any of these."
Vincent nodded slightly dejected. It felt wrong to leave the bodies in such a condition but Aela was right. There was no helping them now. They passed the dead man at the end of the wall and descended down another small staircase. It seemed to be some kind of torture room. Skinned pelts and werewolf heads decorated the walls while blood and bile covered the machines and stone floors.
"I understand hatred…" Vincent sighed, hating the decay smell that invaded his senesces. What he couldn't give for Vilkas' smell right now. "…but this…There is no honor in this. This is just mindless torture. They are no better then the crazed beasts they seek to destroy."
Aela gave him a quick look, judging if his comment was insulting and obviously decided it was not by the nod she gave him.
"They are nothing but children who like being cruel to animals. Like smashing a baby bird's skull in with a rock or kicking a small dog as it tried to eat. They are the true monsters." She spat, rather unlady-like on the ground. "Damnit, Skjor. We only got to kill one each. He got to have all the fun."
"It's not over yet." Vincent nodded at the staircase up across from him. "We still have a few rooms to go."
"Yeah." She nodded but didn't seem convinced. "It's too quiet though. Everyone must be dead already. Skjor will be standing there with that damn smug look of superiority."
Vincent couldn't help but smile and chuckle a bit. "You seem close to him."
"We are close." She nodded. "Intimately so."
Vincent's lips instantly pulled into a straight line "Oh." He got what she meant instantly. "How long?"
"When I first joined the circle." She nodded as they climbed up the stairs.
"Ah."
Scrape, scrape, scrape.
They both paused and looked up at the door at the top of the stairs. What the hell was that? It sounded like someone using a tanning rack in a black smithy. Vincent exchanged a look with her before they both crept closer to the door.
Scrape, Scrape, Scrape.
Louder as they drew closer. It was definitely coming from behind this door. As they approached, Vincent felt an overwhelming sense of dread. A bad aura flowed off this room like a foul odor and almost made him want to recoil. He could smell blood, fresh blood…and that Scraping noise made him want to grind his teeth together.
Aela notched her bow and stood ready by the door. She looked at Vincent and nodded. He was to go first it seemed. The scraping noise was so loud now that it pounded in Vincent's ears like a drum. Every scrape sent a chill down his spine and it was only getting worse. So, he gathered his courage and gripped his mace tightly before he flung open the door.
The chamber inside was nearly pitch black and not even Aela seemed to be able to see too far in. However, she picked the first target she saw and let her arrow fly. A startled grunt called out in the big chamber and a large Orc man came charging out. He had Aela's arrow lodged in his shoulder and he snarled like a caged beast. Aela snarled back at him and notched another. This was her prey.
Vincent quickly scanned the room for more hostiles and could currently see only one more. It was the source of the scraping sound. A fully armored man had stopped mid scrape and had locked eyes with Vincent. He was adored in a mix of steel armor and fresh fur pelts. He must be Krev the skinner.
In the darkness, Vincent couldn't tell what race he was but he doubted it mattered. Krev gripped the dagger he'd been using on the tanning rack and got to his feet quickly. Vincent could see the flash of white teeth as he grinned at the mage with openly displayed malice. Only one would be walking away tonight.
Krev suddenly dashed at him, with a speed that managed to take Vincent by surprise. He caught the sleeve of Vincent's pastel coat with his dagger and ripped a huge gash up the side of his arm. Vincent felt blood being drawn but he could tell it wasn't deep. A glancing blow and he was lucky for it. That little dagger was sharp…
Vincent spun his mace around to try and clock The Skinner in the head but he ducked under it with surprising ease. Vincent didn't have time to brace as Krev's arm whirled in a backhand and cracked him right in the jaw. His mace flew from his hand as he hit the round and rolled off into the darkness of the chamber.
Vincent didn't have time to get to his feet because Krev was on him in a flash. The bigger man straddled his waist so Vincent couldn't kick him off and he held his hands tightly above his hands with only one. Cool metal caressed his check and a chilling laugh of delight echoed in his eardrums. He could smell that man's horrid breath on his face and it made him want to vomit.
"Well, Well…" Krev's voice was indistinguishable from any race and didn't give him away. Vincent was nearly face to face with him but could only really make out sadistic red eyes. He ran the flat of his very sharp, very cold blade along Vincent's check and slowly down his neck. "What have we here? Not a filthy wolf…you don't smell like one…but Ah! Yes…I see."
Pain suddenly wracked Vincent's form and he thrashed to dislodge the man from him. Krev remained still as a mountain however and Vincent could still hear Aela locked in battle somewhere distant. She would be no help here.
"You have a mark here." Krev punctuated his statement by lightly stabbing Vincent's mate mark again. The skin had just about healed from Vilkas' bite and now Krev had lightly stabbed at it twice. It was more then enough to send a stream of blood down his neck and onto his coat. "You lay with Wolves, so it's just as bad as being one." he sighed and pulled the knife away from the mark and back up Vincent's neck. "It's a shame I have to kill you, really. Well, not actually, no. I can do what I wish with you as I end your life slowly."
He saw Krev lick his lips in a hungry way and it made Vincent cringe. Gross.
"Sorry, but that's not going to happen." Vincent pulled his hands into fists and started concentrating. The surge of magic sparked in the air suddenly but Krev was so focused on his face and his blood lust, he didn't seem to notice.
"Oh yeah? How so, little boy? Your weapon is gone and you're defenseless."
"Not quite." Vincent winked before opening his palms to release twin jets of flame right into the Skinner's face.
The skinner howled in pain and rolled off of him, clutching at his own face in agonizing pain. He screamed something about 'Damn Mage!' but Vincent hadn't cared. He rolled to his feet and prepped another spell. A flash of cold formed in his pale and morphed into a fine point that could cut through armor and flesh like tissue paper. He growled at the sticky feeling of blood on his neck and arm before letting the ice bolt fly free from his fingertips. The Skinner was silenced all too suddenly by the large jagged ice crystal lodged in his windpipe. He fell over with a dull thud and breathed one last ragged, soggy sounding breath before stilling.
Vincent felt the urge to spit on the disgusting man but remained dignified. He brushed himself off and scanned around the room. Aela was gone. She probably baited the big Orc down the stairs. He knew she'd be able to handle herself and would probably get mad if he helped her, so he went in search of where his mace had flown off to.
Vincent climbed up the stairs in the middle of the room that led to a platform with what looked like an alter in the middle. He couldn't see anything very well but spotted the gleam of his mace in the darkness. He was lucky he supposed. What little light there was in this room, managed to just catch the ebony of his mace, making it gleam in the darkness. He moved blindly toward it but his foot slid out from under him. He tried to catch himself but there was nothing to grab hold of, so he toppled to his butt into a sticky substance. It smelt, foul…whatever it was. Slightly of blood but there was an added stench of hot sick in the air that made him suddenly gag.
He groaned at the soreness in his behind and weakly reached for the mace as he struggled to hold back the bile rising in his throat. He managed to grab it and look around the room from his seated position. There was a knocked out torch only a foot away so he unsteadily climbed to his feet and grabbed it from the ground. The flame had been licked out, probably when it made contact with the ground. He placed his mace back into his coat and immediately fixed the problem. He conjured flame to his hands for a moment and dipped the torch inside. When it was alight, he dismissed the magic, far too weary to keep it up for long. He sighed as fatigue settled in and turned it attention to the alter.
His eyes widened as the torch dropped from his hands and clattered to the ground. It stayed lit this time which was unfortunate. Vincent would give anything to unsee what he was seeing now.
He was strung up horridly and his jaw had been torn from his face so his tongue lolled uselessly on his neck. They'd stripped him of everything and cut his manhood from him. Where it was now, was a mystery. His stomach had also cruelly been cut open in a rather sloppy way. It was probably done so on purpose. His entrails and blood pooled to the floor and Vincent realized in horror, that that was what he had slipped in.
He heard footsteps behind him, Aela's startled gasp and the sound of her bow clanking against the floor. Vincent didn't turn, didn't acknowledge she was there. His mouth twitched and opened. He screamed at his discovery that night. He screamed until his voice had gone ragged and not even the howling of the wind that night could drown out the sound.