Herelies: Yes. I thought so as well. I had such a horrible day at work today and reading your review perked me right up. I'm glad you saw what I did there…I love DA2 too much sometimes…(even though I almost never romance Anders…) Thank you as always dear for sticking by me and this story. Sorry, I am a grandma when it comes to updating.
Nori-239: Ah. It IS the final confrontation with Cadrian but I still got a few more chapters left. At LEAST two more after this one…maybe. You'll just have to wait and see. HA! I'm glad I already have someone lined up for the sequel! WOOT!
HeidiFox: Lol! Okay. I get it now.
Chapter 28- Skyfall
This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again
For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
At skyfall
That skyfall
- Adele 'Skyfall'
Vilkas groaned at the pounding headache that entered his cranium as his eyes fluttered open. His vision swam and it took him a moment to adjust to his surroundings. He could feel cold stone beneath his cheek and skimmed his calloused hand along the surface to find perchance. When his eyes finally focused back in, he found himself face down in a cell of some sort. He weakly pushed himself up on his knees and tried to take in his surroundings. Aela and Farkas were in cells like his own but Vincent was nowhere to be seen.
Aela was already up and pacing her cell like a trapped animal. Farkas too, was awake but he sat silently by the door of his own cell with his arms crossed. Vilkas felt for his sword but found himself unarmed. By the look of Aela and Farkas, they too were without weapons. However they had been left in their armor.
"Brother…" Farkas perked up. "You're awake."
"Finally." Aela put in, sounding very grumpy. It wasn't wise to cage a wolf.
"A-aye." Vilkas felt the world spin as he tried to get to his feet so he just stayed on the floor. "Where's…Vincent?"
"Haven't seen him." Farkas sighed sadly.
"I was the first up." Aela stopped pacing for a moment. "The boss wasn't here when I did."
"Damnit..!" Vilkas growled. He didn't like being separated from his mate. He didn't like this whole situation. They needed to get out of here. AND NOW! "What the hell happened?"
"A trap. Obviously." Aela grunted and picked at her cage door. It didn't even budge from the impact. "We should have been more careful!"
Vilkas was inclined to agree. They SHOULD have been more careful. Vincent had warned them as such…they were not messing with some whelp here. Vilkas glanced at the floor and blinked oddly at the tray of meager food that had been placed in his cell. "What's this?"
"Someone came by and dropped food off for us." Aela kicked her own empty plate, satisfied when it shattered. She instantly began rummaging through the sharp pieces for a usable weapon.
"Someone?" Vilkas blinked.
"Yeah. A man by the smell of him…sort of." She found a sharp enough piece and grinned, hiding it on her person. "He was dropping it off just as I woke or else I would have tried to grab him."
"Did he smell like anything?" Vilkas sat up and eyed the food wary.
"Uh…yes? No? It was hard to place. Almost like he wasn't even there…"
Vilkas sighed. "Why feed us if they are going to kill us?"
"I don't know." Farkas put in finally. "Why trap us at all? Why not just kill us?"
Vilkas ate the bread, suddenly famished and drank the small amount of water that had been provided. The bread was a bit stale but it served. "They may be toying with us." He growled. "How long have we been out?"
"Hard to tell." Aela sniffed the air. "The air down here is stale, we are far from any fresh source. At least a day by my guess. I've been awake for about half a day already."
"You've been down here for two days." Spoke a voice from the entryway.
All heads swerved in that direction to find a cloaked figure standing there with a chair in their arms. They walked into the room and set the chair before all the cells and then left the room for a moment. Aela looked at Vilkas and nodded rapidly, letting him know that was 'the strange man' who had brought them food before. Sure enough, he came back with more plates and startled to slide them through the gap in the cells.
Vilkas could have lunged for him but he knew Aela had a more serviceable weapon so he waited. Farkas too, seemed to catch on and waited patiently for Aela to make her move. As he slid the tray in her cell, Aela lashed out, gripping his clothed wrist and slashed at the tendons. He grunted and managed to rip his wrist away.
Aela seemed pleased, knowing he probably bleed out in a matter of moments but then her smile fell as no blood came. The stranger looked at his wrist, cut open from the wound but no blood flowed. Vilkas could see his tendons, muscle and a bit of bone exposed from the gash but the stranger just sighed, annoyed and covered it more with his cloak. Then he sat in the chair.
"That will teach me to leave sharp objects lying around."
"Who in the Gods names are you!?" Aela yelled, getting frustrated.
"We've met." The stranger scoffed. That scoff sounded familiar…but it couldn't be…
"Daric?" Vilkas breathed, not believing his own words.
The figure stilled for a moment….before pulling his hood away to reveal Daric Theostair. He looked just like as how Vilkas last saw him…save now that his red eyes were now a mute purple color.
"H-how are you…?" Farkas began.
"Alive?" Daric finished for him with a scowl. "Define that for me, would you?"
"I killed you!" Vilkas snarled and gripped the bars angrily. Why couldn't these jack offs, just stay dead?!
"Yes, I know." Daric rolled his now purple eyes. "That really fucking hurt by the way."
"What are you, then?" Vilkas grit his teeth. "And what have you done with Vincent?!"
"One question at a time, please." Daric rubbed his temples. "We'll address the fate of your Harbinger first, which I'm sure is what you really care about. He's alive. For the moment. The Master is keeping him under close surveillance until the three days are up." Before Vilkas could speak, Daric continued. "As for what I am…well… I'm not really alive."
"You're a ghost then…"
"No." Daric shook his head. "I'm a soul trapped inside a body that isn't mine. A dead, rotted corpse, modified to look as I once did. I am alive…but I am also not."
"This doesn't make a damn lick of since!" Vilkas managed to finally get to his feet. "That's not possible."
"Vampires with the borrowed powers of a Daedric Prince can pretty much do as he likes. Including illusion and possession."
"Then why not just kill us? Are you here to toy with us?" Aela shouted.
Daric was silent for a moment. "No…I'm here to get you out."
That left a stunned silence in the room. Aela was the first to speak. "You…what?"
"I'm here to free you…but not today. Tomorrow I will come here around this time with food and your weapons. I will let you out of those cages and you will go save your harbinger."
"Why can't you just let us out now?" Farkas asked with a growl.
"The Master has the key to your cell on his person today. If he had left it behind on the nightstand I would have let you out today…but alas." he shrugged. "We'll have to wait. Tomorrow, he'll be distracted with Vincent…we'll only have a brief window of opportunity in which I can slip away and free you without notice. It WILL be close to the time Vincent will change so we will have to hurry."
"Why help us at all?" Vilkas spoke, still wary.
"You of all people should know why I'm doing this." Daric's eyes narrowed. "I didn't return to my master that night you gave me the warning. I was going to leave Skyrim. Do you know what it feels like having the one you love tell you that they never want to see you again?! I wronged him…and I did it all thinking I knew what was best for him. So, I messed up. Long story short, the Master found me. He pried the truth from me and took possession over my body…forced me to fight you and the rest is history."
"Why should we trust you?" Vilkas narrowed his eyes right back at the mage.
"You shouldn't. But you don't have a choice." Daric answered. "I gave you the word needed to find this place and trust me, even that wasn't easy. I was forbidden from uttering the name of this place or any of the places surrounding here. So, I had to get creative. I'm going to guess Vincent figured it out."
"He did." Vilkas admitted.
A fond smile crossed the mage's face. "I had no doubt."
"Where does Cadrian think you are now? Won't he be suspicious seeing as you've been gone so long?"
"HE thinks I'm disposing of your corpses. I told him I killed you all, gave him a sample of your blood and your weapons as proof." he grinned, obviously pleased with himself. "He's far too busy containing Vincent to keep too close of an eye on me."
"Containing?" Vilkas asked.
Daric smile fell into a grim look. "As the days get closer to the change, Vincent's power will increase. The Master will have to focus on keeping him bound, less he break free. That and he'll exhaust more then necessary so he can have his…fun."
Vilkas' eyes widened. "What?"
"Torture." Daric almost looked sick to his stomach for a moment. "Nothing that Vincent wouldn't be able to heal but a few new scars to accompany the old. You'd be proud though…he hasn't screamed once."
Vilkas grit his teeth. Though he was proud of Vincent for not showing his pain to the enemy, he was also enraged that his mate was getting hurt. "I'll kill him…"
"Get in line." Daric spoke boldly. "As I said, mutt, don't fool yourself into thinking you're the only man here that loves Vincent. I'm helping you because for some reason, Vincent loves you. It may be too late to change my own fate and relations with him now but maybe I can redeem myself some in his eyes."
"You killed Kodlak!" Aela yelled. "You murdered SKJOR! I'll RIP YOU APART, MAGE."
Daric flinched. "Saying I'm sorry would be inadequate. I believed you to be in the way at the time and now that my eyes have been opened I've seen the error of my doings. As I said, saying sorry would mean nothing as words are just wind. So, I'll spare you hearing it. You may do with me as you will once Cadrian is dead."
Vilkas glanced at his comrades and they seemed reluctant but acceptant of those terms. "Fine." He answered for them all.
"Glad to hear it. I'll be back on the morrow. I've tarried too long as it is." Then he turned, taking his chair with him as he felt the room.
Vilkas sighed and slumped against the wall of his cell. He didn't like this and he knew Aela and Farkas were in a similar boat but for now…they had no choice but to trust him.
True to his word, Daric returned the next day. He was not dressed in a cloak however and wore exactly what Vilkas had seen him wear on the day he was slain. He threw Aela her bow and quiver through the bars and passed Farkas his sword. When he got to Vilkas, he hesitated before handing over Vincent's bastard sword to him. Vilkas blinked.
"My blade?"
"The master has it." Daric spoke getting out the key to unlock the cells. "He's…using it."
"Using it?!"
"On Vincent." he finished grimly. "It's the only time I've heard him cry out."
Vilkas suddenly felt sick and defiled. How dare he do something like that!? "Son of a bitch."
"You're Vincent's weakness." Daric sighed and finally unlocked Vilkas cell before moving on to the other two. "Right now, both Cadrian and Vincent think you're dead."
"You didn't get to tell Vincent we were okay?!" Farkas exclaimed, busting out of the cage as soon as it was unlocked.
"I didn't really get the chance, no. I'm not allowed anywhere near Vincent." He let Aela out last and let out a long breath as she moved past him in favor of killing him.
"You know your way around the Labyrinthian right?" Aela asked, notching an arrow.
"Yes. We must hurry, we don't have much time…" Daric spoke making for the door. "Possibly only a half hour before the change."
"Half an hour?" Vilkas almost roared in rage and grabbed the mage by the wrist harshly.
"I told you, I would come when he was busy and that we wouldn't have much time!" Daric hissed angrily and ripped his wrist out of Vilkas' grasp. "We are wasting time now, idiot."
Vilkas grit his teeth. "Then lead on."
"I was trying to…" Daric rolled his eyes but dropped the issue and lead the way through the Labyrinthian.
He led them through all the traps and pitfalls that were further inside until he led them to a large chamber. There were huge gaps in the floor and it led up to some kind of alter. Vilkas could feel magic pickling at the back of his neck and it made him tense.
"Where's Vincent?" He whispered to Daric.
"Up there." the mage whispered back and inclined his head to the altar. "This is where the Dragon priest Morokei wielded the staff of Magus until the current head of the mages guild made him meet his so called maker. Magic is drawn to this place…so it was the perfect place for my Master to settle."
Vilkas strained his ears for Vincent but heard only silence. There was no noise…he was starting to think this may be a trick but it didn't add up. Why not just kill him in the cell? He glared at the back of the mages' head and Daric turned with a slight annoyed gesture.
"He's being gagged currently." Daric whispered with an annoyed hiss behind his words. "He's close to the edge and Master will not risk injury on himself…no matter how much he enjoys this game."
"You're both sick bastards." Vilkas growled making to move past him and up the ridge but Daric stopped him. Vilkas growled again, slightly louder this time. The threat was clear. Get out of my way or else.
"And you're an idiot." Daric still kept his voice low. "You can't just charge in there."
"And what would you have me do? I won't let Vincent suffer any longer. Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
Daric hesitated. "At least let me distract the Master."
"You have a minute. We are going to coordinate our strike. You have exactly one minute."
"Fine." Daric rolled his eyes. He thrust a small leather bound book at Vilkas and scowled. "When this is over. Give that to Vincent."
"What is it?" Vilkas asked suspiciously.
"The diary of Lillian Belemonde. The Master's sister. He'd had it all these years…I managed to swipe it from his desk last night."
"But why-"
"No time right?" Daric spoke softly. "I have less than a minute now."
"Right. Go on then." Vilkas stashed the book away safely.
Daric huffed and made his way up the path, muttering under his breath. Vilkas guessed the muttering was some crude insult of Vilkas' character but he was too worried about his mate to care. With a nod in Aela's direction, she understood and started to sneak up the far end of the platform. Farkas came closer to Vilkas' side. They would take this charge together.
"Daric?" A voice came from above, sounding slightly put out. "Where have you been boy?" Vilkas almost froze. That was the voice from his dream.
"Forgive me master. I did not wish to see you…hurting him."
"Ah yes." The man Vilkas supposed was Cadrian laughed. "Young love. How can I forget? See Vincent? Not everyone who loves you is dead…well…not really." He laughed and Vilkas felt his blood run cold. That filthy snake…
"Master…please…unbind him."
"Well…Since you asked so nicely, Daric." Footsteps sounded on a cold stone floor and the sound of a strap coming undone echoed in the empty air. "Just his mouth piece…anything you wish to say Vincent?"
A hollow noise sounded that ripped Vilkas' heart in two. He could hear Vincent's breath as he gasped for air but behind that sound was another. His voice was his own but there was another voice behind that one. An ethereal one. It gasped for breathe and spoke in unison. "Die, vile creature."
"So harsh, dear Vincent but it's good to see you so close to the end. This game has been quite fun but I'm glad it's almost at it's end. Nine years is a long time my boy…but I hunted my sister longer." The footsteps receded a bit, he was clearly moving closer to the altar.
Daric peeked down at Vilkas and Farkas and with a gesture of his head, silently commanded them to make their move. Vilkas and Farkas moved up slowly so they wouldn't alert the master mage in his current gloating.
"Can you do math, Vincent my boy? Thirteen years I hunted her. I almost got her four years in but she managed to slip away from that fishing village she'd taken residence in. I didn't even kill her lad. Someone got to her before I could…"
"Oblivion awaits you Vampire." The ethereal double voice sounded. "Not even your Master, the Prince of Rape can save you from my wrath."
A sudden snarl. "Don't you dare pretend you know who rules me! I am ruled by no man or Daedra!" A sudden whoosh of cloth and the double voice howled in horrific sounding pain. "I am MASTER here!"
Vilkas finally got to the top with Farkas and gaped at the sight before him. Vincent was bound in the floor by chains and he was seemingly trapped by a strange symbol under him that glowed as he struggled. A weird looking…birdcage…was on the ground by his head and a weird red light glowed within in. Whatever it was, it seemed to be the source of Vincent's pain. Vincent himself seemed in rough shape. He was fully clothed but Vilkas could see blood seeping through his clothes, staining his coat into a mix of a dull brown color and thick crimson reds. His skin was so pale it was almost blue and his once rosy lips were pale, as if he was dying from the cold. His hair seemed a more vibrant red and his eyes were fiery red as well. Vilkas swallowed the lump in his throat…this was all like his dream…or was it a vision?
Either way, this needed to end.
The man in change was wearing long fancy black robes and had short curly black hair atop his head. His eyes were the same red as Daric's when he had been possessed and in his hands he held Vilkas' sword. Vilkas felt his rage boil over. That was HIS sword. Part of him knew it didn't even matter that a mage had taken it to hurt someone…no. It was because that filthy little mage had taken HIS sword…an extension of himself, to wound his mate.
Vilkas charged at the mage suddenly and swung Vincent's bastard sword at him in a deadly arc. Cadrian looked over, eyes widening comically before vanishing from view and out of harms way. Vilkas turned heel, not caring where the mage had vanished to for the moment and struck the birdcage. It hit the ground with a loud clang and the fire flickered but didn't go out. However it's hold on Vincent seemed to break and Vincent…or at least he hoped it still was Vincent, stopped screaming and sagged in his bounds, tired.
"VILKAS! WATCH OUT!" Farkas' voice rang out and Vilkas turned in time to see a furious Cadrian behind him. With a harsh backhand, Vilkas almost flew across the chamber from the force of the blow and skid on the stone floor as he made impact. Vilkas tried to pay the pain no mind and struggled to his feet, his grip on Vincent's sword was still tight.
Farkas charged Cadrian and Aela shot an arrow at him through the darkness. Cadrian caught the arrow and in one swift motion, slapped Farkas' blade aside with his hand and buried the arrow deep into Farkas' neck. Vilkas' eyes widened as did his twins' as Farkas gurgled on his own blood and slumped to the floor. Vilkas heard himself scream for his brother and dash toward the master Vampire. He was vaguely aware of Aela screaming in anger and sorrow but all he could see was Cadrian and red.
His twin…oh Gods above, Farkas…
Cadrian grinned and grabbed Vincent's sword easily when Vilkas swung it. He held it in place as if it weighed nothing, even though Vilkas was pushing with all he had against him. In a quick flick of his other hand, Aela came hurtling toward them as if pulled by an invisible force. He caught her by the neck and with a sick crack noise, she too crumpled and fell still atop of Farkas.
"AELA!" Vilkas could feel his blood pounding in his ears, he wanted to scream, wanted to cry but he knew he had to save those tears for later. His friends…no…his family…they were gone. In a matter of seconds they were gone! He didn't glace down but he could tell Aela and Farkas' bodies were still twitching. Not yet dead but damn close. Those were wounds Vilkas could never fix and they would die slowly. He swore he wouldn't cry but he could feel hot tears prickling at his eyes but he fought them back. He wouldn't give this monster the pleasure of seeing him break.
"Hello little man." Cadrian spoke casually as if he wasn't holding a very deadly sword blade in one hand. "Vilkas, was it? Tell me…mortal. Was this all worth it?"
"Burn in oblivion, you Monster!"
"So tactful. The fly will spew insults as the spider devourers it." Cadrian thrust the blade aside and lifted Vilkas' own. "Very well. Join your barbarian family in the world beyond this one."
Vilkas steeled himself for the bite of steel against his flesh but found it absent. Cadrian howled in pain as a dagger roughly jabbed into his exposed armpit made him falter. Daric clutched the dagger and twisted, shooting a furious look at Vilkas.
"I've magically unlocked his bonds and tarnished the symbol that binds him! Get Vincent out of here you idiot!"
Vilkas didn't hesitate. He turned to Vincent and ran full tilt toward him. He could feel his heart beating rapidly against his chest when he found the mage standing with his back toward him. He almost felt the world slow down as he realized he's seen this so many times before. Yet he still reached out for him and Vincent still turned. Vincent coughed, blood coming up to stain his chin and neck as he took an awkward step toward Vilkas.
One step…two steps…before he faltered and began to fall. Vilkas was there and he caught the mage in his arms and cradled him lovingly against his chest. He lowered the mage quickly and dug through Vincent's pockets, looking for that medicine that he'd seen Vincent stash before they had left to come to this hell. It was his only chance now!
"DARIC! HOW DARE YOU TURN AGAINST ME YOU UNGREATFUL LITTLE CUR!"
There was a sick splattering noise and Vilkas glanced up in time to see Cadrian thrust his hand through Daric's torso. On the other end, something purple glowed in Cadrian's palm and the sound of glass breaking echoed as he smashed whatever it was. Daric screamed in pure agony and the purple in his eyes faded to a grey color. Cadrian dropped the broken soul gem and it clattered on the ground and rolled off the edge, falling somewhere into the darkness.
Vilkas felt his breathing accelerate and he continued his search. It had to be somewhere!
"Ahem."
Vilkas glanced up again to see Cadrian thrust his arm out of Daric's now lifeless body and stand straight and composed. Daric's vessel fell like a rag doll and stared blankly up at the ceiling, unmoved and frozen. Death was not pleasant…Vilkas didn't want to even imagine what it must be like twice.
"Looking for this?" Cadrian held up the vial of Vincent's medicine. Vilkas' heart dropped as Cadrian slammed the vial to the floor and it shattered into a million tiny pieces. "Woops."
Vilkas felt his breath catch and the feeling of dread welled up in his throat. He wanted to vomit…this was the end. It was over and Cadrian had won. There was no hope anymore…
He glanced down and Vincent and saw those red eyes looking back at him sadly. He knew it too. "Vincent…" He croaked out, feeling the tears he'd fought so hard to keep back, start to fall. What could he say? He was sorry? He tried? Should he say he loved Vincent before the end did come? Or was it best left unsaid? "This is a dream…" he heard himself whisper. Broken. Defeated. Lost. He'd said these words in his dream and they fit here as they had before. "This is all just a bad dream. Right?"
Vincent's eyes suddenly unfocused and he stared at the ceiling. Time was up. Vilkas choked back a sob that erupted from his throat and he held him mate tightly. He thought for a moment about praying to Talos for help but it was far too late for that now. His twin brother and the woman he loved like a sister were slowly dying on the floor. The man he loved more than anyone was in his arms as still as stone and Vilkas knew he'd join him soon.
"It's almost endgame boy." Cadrian spoke. "Where is Talos now?"
As expected, Vilkas gasped in pain as he felt something sharp and cold piece his back. He weakly glanced at the jutting piece of ice that had cut through his armor like tissue paper and now protruded from his chest. At his gasp of pain, he saw Vincent's fingers twitch slightly and he mouthed something silent that Vilkas couldn't catch. Cadrian's hollow laugh echoed in the chamber and Vilkas could hear his footsteps approaching.
His vision swam and the edges of his sight began to grow dark. He fell atop Vincent, still clutching the mage tightly as if his arms would forever protect him. He almost smiled, noting how Vincent had no burst into flames as he had in the dream. It didn't matter though…the outcome was no different.
Then, another sensation. One he'd felt before once. It seemed so long ago as Vilkas struggled to keep conscious…that day in the woods when they had been hunting that outlaw. Vilkas had been hurt and they went back to Jorrvaskr. Vincent had healed him…this felt similar…but…More powerful.
The pain that was trying to fling his mind into Oblivion suddenly ebbed away and he became more alert and alive. He could feel his flesh knitting together and the ice spike, pushed itself from his body. Cadrian was no longer laughing. Vilkas' eyes fluttered open and he lifted himself, still weak from near death but strong enough to sit up. The figure in his hand glowed with an ethereal light and gently pushed itself out of Vilkas' arms. It stood up straight and with a wave of it's hand flowed new life into the bodies around.
Vilkas heard Farkas' sharp intake of breath and a cough that no longer sounded harsh. He heard Aela groan in pain but stir as well and he could feel his heart crawl out of his stomach and back into place. They were alive. They were alive and they were going to be okay. They all were.
The glowing stopped and Vincent stood there with his back to Vilkas and the other companions. He was facing Cadrian and the Vampire looked like a dear caught in the headlights.
"Vincent…look at you." Cadrian began.
Vincent didn't respond and held up his hand. Vilkas felt a violent surge of magic and Cadrian took a fire ball roughly to the chest. It knocked him back, Vilkas sword fell from his hands and caught his robes alight. The Vampire screeched and tossed off the robe to rid himself of the garment. He was in nothing but his pants and shoes, his chest badly and furiously burned. He was on his knees as he still tried to pat out the flickering flames against his flesh. Another blast of magic sent Cadrian screaming again, this time electricity that seemed to paralyze his every nerve. Cadrian gasped and coughed up blood from the force of the blasts.
Vincent slowly bent, picking up Vilkas' blade easily with one hand and stepping closer to Cadrian's bent form. The birdcage was between them and Vincent's figure seemed to contemplate it for a moment before crushing it under his boot.
"Vincent…" Cadrian tried to caution. "Lets not be hasty now…I'm all you have left."
Vincent didn't answer him verbally but with a shake of his head. No. Vilkas managed to get to his feet and instead of running for Vincent, he went over to help Aela and Farkas up. For some reason he knew Vincent didn't need Vilkas to protect him now. He could stand on his own.
"I could tell you so much Vincent!" Cadrian held his hands up defensively. "There's so much you don't kn-" Cadrian didn't get to finish as Vincent swung out with Vilkas' blade and let Cadrian's ugly head roll on the ground. The body fell to dust as all Vampires did and blew away in the slight wind.
Vilkas got Farkas and Aela to their feet and he glanced at Daric's body. He too had faded to dust but left behind his crimson ribbon. Vilkas bent and picked it up from the ashes before stashing it near the diary of Lillian Belemonde. He then turned to Vincent who managed to locate his own blade and picked it up off the ground. He found his holster and slung that on as well and sheathed his sword on his back.
"Vincent?" Vilkas spoke carefully. Was this even Vincent anymore?
He heard Vincent sigh before turning toward them. Vilkas' breath caught in his throat when he saw Vincent's eyes were no longer the copper color he'd become so accustomed to. Instead of copper his eyes had become a glorious blue. It was the same blue that Vilkas had always seen when they made love and his breath caught in his throat. Aela and Farkas seemed to be in a similar state of awe.
"Vilkas." Vincent smiled and Vilkas knew everything was going to be okay.
"Excuse me." A small voice sounded and all whirled around for battle. Honestly Vilkas was so tired he didn't know how he'd find the strength to do this but he's sure he'd manage. He automatically lowered the blade when he saw the shinning figure from his dreams standing there. He opened his mouth to speak but Vincent beat him to it.
"Grace?"
She smiled. "This way." And began moving. The companions all exchanged glances before following. They all had to jog to keep up with the small ethereal girl. It didn't help that she could pass through walls when they could not. She never strayed too far from their sight, apparently taking pity on them and not leaving them in her dust. They caught up when she stood at the entrance to the Labyrinthian, the sun rising behind her making her look like a beautiful little angel.
"Grace…" Vincent repeated and took a step closer to her.
"I told you we would speak again the day Cadrian died." She smiled wisely and led them out into the sunlight. "We are very proud of you all." Aela and Farkas seemed confused. She smiled in their direction. "Do not worry. I am no enemy."
"Who are you then?" Aela asked, seemingly slightly suspicious.
"We are a friend. We watch silently, Aela the Huntress, Claimed wolf of Hircine." She tensed and Grace laughed. "You do not need to fear us. We mean no harm."
"So you're a silent watcher?" Farkas asked.
"Farkas of Jorrvaskr, once wolf now mortal man…" She smiled and nodded. "In a way we are. We watch his land of Skyrim closer then most."
"Talos." Vilkas huffed crossing his arms. He always did hate the riddles and indirectness.
She frowned. "Must you ruin the surprise, dear Vilkas?" Aela and Farkas gaped. Vincent's expression was completely blank. "I am not Talos…but I am Talos. Only a piece of him… a messenger."
"Grace…" Vincent fell to his knees before the small girl, still barefoot in the snow.
"Brother." She echoed and helped him stand. "You've done well. We are proud of you…but your role in history is not yet over. Know that no matter what you learn…we will always be siblings, you and I."
"I…I don't…"
"Wait, wait." Aela interrupted. "What happened in there?!"
She looked over at Aela and the huntress tensed slightly. "The best possible outcome of this event has come to pass and the Gods are pleased."
"So…Vincent is cured?" Vilkas asked reaching and taking Vincent's hand in his own. Vincent's fingers tensed for a moment and then as if remembering where he was, smiled and laced their fingers together.
"Yes and No." Grace's head tilted to the side. "It's more like a temporary solution."
"Explain." Vilkas huffed and then changed his tone when Grace's eyebrow shot up. "Please."
She kicked the snow with her bare foot and watched it blow slightly in the wind. She seemed deep in thought. She knew what was exactly wrong with Vincent now…Vilkas guessed she was just thinking of the simplest way to explain.
"The spirit is special." She began. "Bound to this world against it's will and feral until bound to a host. It's much like a wild animal…that's why it lashed out at anyone when caged. Innocence or guilt…it mattered not because it was trapped. Worthy vessels are ones that could share the Spirits' pain. Vincent passed the test the first time because of the sorrow of watching his sister burn. Does this make sense?"
Farkas nodded slightly as did Aela. Vincent's fingers tightened their grip and Vilkas squeezed back."
"Aye. It makes since but it doesn't explain what happened now."
"There were two ways this could have gone Vilkas. That Spirit was bound to Vincent's life…and after another great tragedy…like for instance…Seeing the man he loves the most almost die trying to save him…now the spirit is bound to his soul." She paused at the blank looks. "Let me try this another way. Vincent. Care to step in here?"
Vincent sighed. "When you…Grace died…I heard a voice asking me a question. It was odd…I couldn't tell you what was said but I somehow seemed to understand. I said yes. The next time I woke I was inflicted with the spirit. Then…in there…I was aware of what was happening Vilkas." He gazed up at Vilkas with those now pretty blue eyes. "As you held me in your arms, I could see light fading from your eyes and I…" He took a deep breath to compose himself, shutting his eyes against the particular memory.
"Vincent. It is okay." Grace reassured him. "This nightmare will behind you soon enough but your friends deserve clarity." Vilkas found that ironic coming from the queen of riddles.
"Right…" Vincent seemed to relax. "I heard Farkas and Aela fall. That send my mind reeling and then Vilkas…It was too much. Maybe I could hear because I was so close to the change but the spirit stopped it's assault on my system and asked me another question. It wanted to make a deal with me."
"A deal?" Vilkas asked, slightly suspicious.
"Yes…and I accepted. The deal is that the spirit is allowed to take up residence inside my soul until the day I die. When my spirit goes to the afterlife, it will be able to part from me and go back to the Oblivion in which it came."
"It will keep its word?" Vilkas asked, not really liking this. "How do you know it wont drag your soul to oblivion with it?"
"I don't really…but it's kept it's word so far. I'm stronger. The spirit and I are one right now and I'm the one in charge. I don't hear it's voice now…I don't think we can have a conversation anymore. It's like…we were never apart now. I don't feel like something foreign has invaded me…not anymore. I can tell it's still inside though…I still feel numb to hot or cold. I…it's confusing."
"I'll say." Aela nodded.
Grace smiled kindly. "The spirit will no longer hinder your health brother and if anything it will keep you safe in the coming years."
Vincent let go of Vilkas' hand and kneeled in front of Grace again. "Grace."
"Brother." She echoed again, with a soft amused smile.
"I'm so sorry."
She tilted her head confused. "About?"
"Everything?" he croaked, tears welling up in his eyes. "I couldn't protect you…I brought you to live with Cadrian and I condemned you to this…"
"I have told you Brother that I am better now. More so than I ever was alive. I am free of disease and pestilence…of fear and hate….of everything. I know you think you failed me but fate has placed us as we are now. If this had not happened, you would not have met Vilkas. Everything happens for a reason Vincent and the best possible outcome has been achieved."
"But I-"
"No buts." She smiled a bit sadly. "Vincent. Know this and know it well…my death was written in fate, one way or the other. If you had not gone with Cadrian he would have hunted you down. He would have burnt down the orphanage one day while you were working and I would have died in the blaze. I was condemned to fire, no matter the outcome."
Vincent's eyes widened and a tear leaked free and ran down his cheek. Grace reached a hand out and brushed it away from his face. "Grace…"
"Do you see why it is dangerous for mortal men to know the future? Do not ever think you failed me. Everything happens for a reason and now you have a new life ahead of you." she glanced at Vilkas. "You'll be married to a man you love and lead a group of wonderful and loyal people who will stand beside you no matter what. You have a life now Brother. Live it."
"…" it took Vincent a moment but he swallowed the lump in his throat and wiped his eyes. "…Okay."
"now…if this is all settled, I have stayed too long as it is."
"Will I…!" Vincent stopped and started again. "Will I see you again?"
She sighed. "No." Vincent bowed his head, silent. Vilkas moved beside him and got him to his feet. "however…" She continued. "I will be in touch with Vilkas."
All eyes turned to him and Vilkas shivered under the unwanted attention. "…"
"Why's that?" Farkas asked.
"He's a prophet." Grace blinked. "I've been speaking to him in his dreams."
"And I have to look forward to more of that?" Vilkas asked a bit disdainful.
She grinned. "Yep!"
"Wonderful."
Grace turned and looked at the rising sun. "I have stayed too long. I have to go now." She looked at each companion and her gaze finally rested on Vincent. "Take care of yourself and your guild, brother. Hard times are coming and you have a part to play in this. Our prophet will keep you updated I'm sure." She nodded expectantly at Vilkas. Then she turned as if to take her leave.
"Grace!" Vincent called after and she stopped. She turned to face him and smiled.
"Yes?"
"…" He hesitated. "Goodbye."
She smile widened. "Goodbye, brother."
In a bright flash, she was gone, leaving the four companions alone in the slow, outside of a metaphorical hell. They all glanced at each other and set off back to home, following the winding road of heaven.
Two chapters left and then like…four bonus chapters if people want them.