Hello, I apologize for the very long time in between postings, but here is Ch. 5. Thank you for reading. :)
Also real warning, this is rated M for a reason.
Enjoy!
Serana
The restraints around her wrists were beginning to cut into her skin, making the metal shackles slick with her blood. The pain only didn't bother her because her hunger was overwhelming.
The fear that had once made it hard for her to breathe had faded away with the days of her capture, to be slowly replaced by anger and determination.
Every time her body responded to the pain, her mind would fly instantly to Nadia.
Her friend. A prisoner in her home. To her own father.
This pain would have tickled Nadia. She would laugh at it.
She gave up on counting the days she was stuck standing with her wrists held above her. A mortal would have lost life in their hands and they would have decayed from the lack of blood. Her hands were badly damaged from when her legs would give out and her weight would yank down on the restraints around her wrists, cutting into her skin even more.
Was coming to the Dawnguard even worth it? If I end up dying here anyways?
Yes. I could not just stand around while Nadia slowly withered away, both of us helpless.
She had surrendered to the Dawnguard, probably a few weeks ago, with the full intention of talking to them and coming to an agreement.
Only they were not interested in what she wanted to say. They only saw her as vampire. Something they got off on killing. And apparently, torturing.
She felt relief when a redguard finally approached her after so long being alone. She ignored her instinctual need for his blood; any blood. He stopped a few feet from her and regarded her with a cool gaze, his eyes lighting up in sick enjoyment at the sight of her suffering. She cleared her throat and spoke for the first time in a long time.
"I have a proposal." She coughed violently at the scratchy feeling of her voice, but continued. "Listen to me, and a lot of vampires are going to die, including the most powerful one in the world."
He paused and looked her in the eyes for the first time, confusion on his face, that was quickly replaced by anger.
"You think I'm stupid, bitch?" He asked her in a deep and experienced voice, one that had seen wars and had come out from the bottom. He then laughed humorlessly, before pulling up a chair and sitting on it backwards to look at her, still standing after weeks, the blood stains like stripes down her arms from her hands held above. "You're one tough monster, I'll give you that."
"I am not fighting for myself. I am here…to ask for your help."
That erased the smirk off his face, but it was quickly replaced by a snarl.
"I'll listen to none of the filth from your mouth. I've only kept you alive this long to see how long it took to starve you."
"It takes about two months." She said offhandedly. "My family is the Volkihar clan, and we live in a castle on an island off the northeast coast of Skyrim." She continued, staring back at his confused gaze. "The main entrance has a main hall in the beginning with many vantage points to be attacked from; you should think about sneaking in through the dock on the east side when you attack. In the pocket on the inside of my pouch is a detailed layout of my home, including where all of the individuals live, and where they keep their deathhounds."
The redguard paused before standing from his chair and approaching her, before roughly handling her belt to remove the parchment she had mentioned. He unfolded it and studied it for a few moments, before glaring up at her.
"I have no reason to trust anything you say. All of this could be a plan to lure us out and attack us by giving us false information.
"You're right. But if I wanted you dead, I could have killed you when you got so close to me to reach into my belt." She demonstrated by showing how far she could reach with her mouth.
This made him mad.
"What game are you playing at, vermin?"
"You know about the dragons." She began. She could tell from the recognition in his face that he had probably seen or faced one recently. "They are killing everybody, everything. They don't care if we are mortal or immortal. And according to the legends, from which dragons come from, we need a dragonborn to save us."
He stood silently at last, listening.
"The dragonborn is being held captive in my home, by my father." She closed her eyes briefly in pain. "He has confirmed her dragon blood; it is why she is his most precious captive. She is this world's only hope to defeat the dragons. And I need your help to take down my father, once and for all."
She stared him down, and watched thoughts flow through his expression, finally landing on a contempt understanding. He sighed deeply, and moved forward to begin unlocking the shackles on her wrists.
"I…was wondering when the dragonborn would show up. It's either a terrible hoax that will get many of both of our people killed, or it's a nice coincidence. Either way, I get to kill vampires. I've been waiting for this for way too damned long."
Someone was holding my shoulders and shaking me. I felt the fur of the blankets below, and the warmth from the fire to my side. I smelled the scent of someone familiar.
Not yet… Please.
Please don't let this dream end.
"Nadia…"
The quiet voice woke me with her sense of urgency, and I blinked a few times and focused on her face.
Serana.
Wait. Serana?
The last few weeks rushed through my mind, and I searched around the room wildly for him as my first instinct.
"Wha-? Where, where is he-?"
"I don't know. Wait here, I am going to check the hallway."
I felt the warm body move from my side and leave an empty space next to me, and I watched her creep over to the large door and quietly open it. I sat up and the world began to immediately spin around me, and I felt the pain in the back of my head as I let myself fall back onto the blankets.
I opened my eyes when she returned to my side, and she held my head and looked at me with an intense expression. She whispered.
"Nadia, listen to me. We have a week before the vampire hunters should arrive. I have a lot of work to do to prepare for their invasion, and I am going to ask you to do something you will not like to hear."
My brows came together and tried to process this information.
"I need you to be as complacent as you can."
I hadn't even fully understood what she said before I opened my mouth to argue, and she silenced me by covering my mouth with her hand.
"We cannot take my father. Let alone the rest of my family, or our hounds. But that is why I got help." Her hand moved from my mouth to rest on my cheek, and I tried not to glare at her. "Please, Nadia. We will have an opportunity to escape. But I need you to stay as safe as you can until then."
I nodded once and looked around the room again before slowly trying to sit up again.
"How did you get the vampire hunters' help? Did they hurt you?"
Serana looked away.
"It will all be worth it when they storm this castle, and finally give us a chance to be free again."
I watched her for a moment, hearing the guard in her voice.
"Thank you for coming back."
She looked at me and gave me a look that said, 'of course', before she stood once again and made for the door.
"I'm going to the kitchen to find you some food." She looked back at me before leaving, her eyes tinged with worry. "I'll hurry."
I was then left alone in this room, all by myself. It felt…wrong. That thought caused anger to boil in my stomach.
To think. I've grown used to constantly having my 'master' around me.
Worry began to stitch in my stomach as I thought about everything I did to him before passing out. I had stabbed him. Multiple times. I had caused him to display such pure anger and hatred.
There is no way he will let it slide this time. I closed my eyes. No wonder Serana said I need to be complacent.
What have I gotten us into this time?
I looked around the room then, registering the disarray that the desk was in from our grappling. Papers were everywhere in the room, and ink splotched the stone floor in uneven intervals.
Would it anger him or please him if I attempt to clean his study?
I sighed and decided, why the hell not. I slowly stood, feeling the heaviness in my head, and gingerly took a few steps to test my body. I then began the task of gathering up all of his papers and placing them in neat piles on his desk. I then took a rag from next to the fireplace and knelt down to scrub at the ink stains. With persistence and patience, I cleaned my kidnapper's room, while I listened intently for the door.
When I did hear the creak from the old wood, I automatically assumed it was Harkon, and my body flinched and cowered without my consent. I looked up and saw it was Serana holding a tray of something steaming, and I felt my muscles relax and the fear leave my face.
She went to the pile of blankets near the fire, and I gingerly made my way over there. The tray had a whole loaf of bread and a steaming stew, with a large pitcher of water. My mouth began to water and I looked up at Serana's eyes.
"Thank, thank you, this…" I didn't finish as I held the bowl in my hands to warm them and I began to eat my feast.
"I'm sorry I took so long. I hadn't fed in, well…" She stopped then and looked away, and I shook my head.
"I appreciate it. That you rushed home after whatever you had to endure at the vampire slayers'."
She met my eyes and smiled at me, and I smiled back at her.
The moment was sweet, but was of course ruined by my fear.
"Is… your father, here?..."
"He is. I peeked into the infirmary and he was asleep." She sighed. "I…will be here with you when he wakes."
I knew exactly what she said. I'll try and protect you from however he reacts to last night.
I shook my head. All of this is because of me. How did I think trying to kill the one person keeping me alive was a good idea?
"I don't want you to be punished for how I acted. I was the dumbass who decided to futilely try and kill your father, and just ended up, fucking, tickling him."
"You did way more than tickle him, Nadia. I told you, I haven't seen him this injured in, well, ever." She shook her head, regarding me. "I don't know how you find the strength and the skill." She looked down at the fire. "You're so remarkable."
I felt something crawl inside my chest, and my cheeks heated up.
"Me? Serana, you're the one who travelled across the goddamned country and successfully made an alliance with your sworn enemies." I reached for her hand, and she glanced up at me. "You, are remarkable."
I watched a faint smile enter her eyes, and she squeezed my hand back. I knew I probably should have removed my hand at this point, but her eyes, were just so beautiful in the firelight, and her soft hand fit so well against mine.
Reel them in, Nadia.
Reel what in?
Reel what in. What do think reel what in you horny trash. Reel your goddamn thoughts in.
Right. Prisoner. Food. Food!
I smiled and averted my gaze from hers, removed my hand gently and reached for the pitcher of water. The water was cool and felt wonderful washing down my throat, and I let this, along with the tingling feelings I still had in my stomach from Serana, relax me.
"You look healthier." She said softly, and I met her eyes and nodded.
"I've been doing exercises since Harkon let me out of the cage. And I eat everything I can get, even when I'm not hungry." I looked down at myself and appreciated what little muscle had returned to my bones. None of it was what I wanted, though. "I miss my magic."
Serana nodded in understanding. "Your willpower only grows stronger. I'd bet your magic will return stronger than before."
I smiled slightly at the thought. The idea, the plan of escaping only really then hit me. I put my head in my hands.
"I…can't wait to see the stars again." I sighed deeply, and looked over at my companion, watching me and gracing me with her full attention. "And the sun." I got caught in her gaze once again, and spoke before my mind could catch up. "Though, looking at you and your beautiful eyes is close enough."
I watched her eyebrows rise and her expression turn embarrassed, and she glanced away and smiled.
"Always the charmer…" I contained my laughter from watching her try and hide how good the compliment made her feel. She glanced up at me with a playful glint in her eyes. "You don't need a favor from me, do you?"
I wanted to continue the teasing but I stopped when I realized I did want a favor from her. My voice lost its joking tone.
"I…actually, would really, really appreciate…being held."
I forced my gaze to stay on her as she processed my request. Her features relaxed and her eyebrows upturned, and in a second her arms were around me and she was pulling me down onto the blankets, one of her hands holding my back and the other holding the back of my head to her chest. After a second I relaxed into her embrace, my limbs and my chest warm with contact from another person; this person. She breathed steadily, her chest rising up and down, and the rhythm felt so comfortable, so natural to be lying against her.
The bliss only lasted for so long.
My eyes shot open and I felt her stiffen when we heard the door being opened. We flew apart, both of our gazes locking on to the man entering; the one I dread the absolute most. Harkon.
He was already looking at us by the time we met his eyes, and I watched his expression harden and his fists clench. We all stood there for a moment, Serana and I waiting for his reaction.
The emotions on his face were not concealed very well. Anger, confusion, sadness. Anger, confusion, sadness, repeated in a loop as I held my breath.
And then he looked away. He strode into his master room and passed Serana and I, to gingerly lower himself into the chair behind his desk. He did not look up.
"Leave, Serana."
His voice was softer than usual. This difference was shocking enough to make Serana follow his order, only after squeezing my outstretched hand. He glanced up for an instant, and his eyes locked onto our hands. I watched his impassive face turn to anger once again. Serana left, and I stared at the quiet Lord.
Silence.
…
Silence.
…
"I see she brought you food."
His voice was soft once more, but his gaze was planted on his desk. He began to shuffle his papers, probably organizing them. I cleared my throat.
"Uh, yes…"
The silence returned. Time in captivity from Harkon had never felt like this before. It hadn't felt comfortable, but it had not felt as unbearably uncomfortable as it does now. The silence was deafening, and I felt like my lungs were in a vacuum.
Is he mad? Will he punish me? Why is he hiding his emotions now, that is so unlike him. Where did Serana go?
"I'm not going to wait for you to apologize." He broke the silence. His mouth smirked, but his eyes remained averted. He began to write something, his quill strokes hard and fast. "Because I know you would rather receive any amount of pain instead."
His strokes became rough. I held my tongue.
"Have I ever touched you?" His glare bored into my head, his quill pausing. My eyes widened. His voice rose to a shout. "Have I ever mistreated you, withheld food from you, caused you unnecessary pain?!"
I flinched at his anger, utterly confused. And then my confusion turned into anger. I glared right back at him, and clenched my fists so hard my nails punctured my palms.
Don't, Nadia. Don't. You'll ruin everything. You must. Be. Complacent.
I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, screaming at him in my head. You FUCKER. I won't apologize to you because I am your PRISONER.
"Your fight is so…unique. The fight against submission. The fight against giving up power." He stood from his desk then and strode over to me, and I forced myself to make my glare lessen. "You are unable to be…complacent. You have to fight." He stopped and bent down to me. I immediately smelled his musky scent as it washed over me, and I felt claustrophobic in his personal space. I kept my eyes on him though. Keeping my mouth shut is at least possible, but bending my head like a frightened dog is not.
He seemed to enjoy our matched glare. With him so close, his emotions were much easier to read on his face. Right now was mostly confusion. With a pinch of betrayal.
"What does my useless daughter have? How can you look past her incompetence and weakness?" His voice had softened a degree. The mention of Serana flared my anger. My palms began to bleed.
Punch him in the nose.
No.
Punch him in the throat.
NO.
"Not just once." He held his stomach where I stabbed him. "But multiple times." He closed his eyes, shielding me from his glaring suns.
And then, he changed.
His eyes opened and captured mine with their glaring intensity. I was taken aback by the intimacy.
"And that is why you are perfect."
…
What.
"Why aren't you fighting my now? You should be screaming at me like the crazy hound you are."
I glared daggers at him but kept my mouth shut. This did not please him.
He stared for a moment, and then slapped me across the face. I grunted slightly.
"Resist me." He commanded. He slapped me again. The sting hurt, but I just glared at him, the intent behind my silence changing to one very different.
Oh, you want me to scream and yell? Is that your version of begging?
Well, you will get none of that!
He frowned and stood up, then backhanded me, causing me to spin and hit the floor. I felt some bruises form on my hands and elbows where I landed, but I turned and looked at him, putting my most complacent face on. I watched the frustration on his face from my lack of resistance, and then I did something I never thought I would do, I lowered my gaze from him.
I could feel the tension in the room grow, bleeding from the mass tension in between Harkon and I.
"You…you are faking this." He said softly. I stilled from him finding me out, and kept my face down. He stood from where he was in front of me, and I felt two of his fingers lift my chin, so I had to face him from this terrible position; him standing, and me on my knees. It made my blood boil.
And he knows it.
He studied me for a moment before speaking. "My daughter. She will leave you."
What?!
My eyes widened, and my composure tightened. He noticed, and continued.
"She pities you, my dragonborn." I cringed, both at what he said and what he called me. "Serana loves only one person in this realm and that was her-" he paused as a disgusted look came over his face. "-her mother, let her rot in hell."
My eyes narrowed involuntarily. He was getting to me, and we both knew it.
Why does he antagonize me so? Why doesn't he just want a nice, quiet house cat instead of the passionate dog I am?
"Serana." He spit to the side. "Terrible excuse for a daughter, even worse for a successor. The stupid girl can't do anything right, that's why I locked her away for centuries. That's the only use she has. How does it feel, I wonder, to help her back to her home for her to immediately fail you as a partner to protect you. She smells your blood just as I do. No doubt she plays you like the lying bitch her mother was just so she can sink her teeth into you like me-"
A loud clap resonated around the room. I had stood and slapped Harkon in the face mid sentence.
And then the dam broke.
"How dare you call her that! You are a fucking piece of waste of a father, you son of a bitch! I'd cut you into a million pieces and then burn your evil ass in the wastes of Oblivion, and then bring you back just to stab you in the throat! You don't know how much I'd like to ki-"
In one swift motion, grabbed my shoulders, made us fall to our knees, and kissed me to silence my tirade. The shock froze my limbs, but in a second I pushed against him. My strength was nothing compared to his, and he instead dragged me closer to him, his hands moving to my neck. I fought against him, and yelled out loud, before being silenced again by his persistent lips.
My yells were muffled, and his hands squeezed my neck, causing my shouts to sound airy. The pain was nothing but the fear, the fear squeezed my lungs and heart tighter than his hands were squeezing my neck. I shoved against him as hard as I could, and the realization that I could do nothing caused the tightness to plunge down my core, filling my vision with white-hot terror.
After a minute of struggle, Harkon released my lips but kept a firm hold on my neck. He whispered intimately, his fevered eyes boring into mine.
"Your fight, your willpower, is intoxicating." I used this time to try and wriggle out of his grasp, but my resistance only seemed to excite him. "Never before, in my long centuries, have I met another soul to match mine so…perfectly."
I struggled, then spat in his face. He released my neck with one hand to wipe it off, and he smiled.
"Who would have thought that the will to match mine would also be the source of the most…" He paused, using his free hand to rub his thumb against my cheek. I yanked away, making his smile widen. "…the most divine, enticing blood would be a mortal." He pushed me down onto the stone floor and he lowered himself on top of me, trapping me in his arms and legs. My heart was beating painfully fast in my panic.
"SERANA! Serana, please-" My scream call for help was muffled from his lips once again, and he pressed his armored body against mine, the contact making my skin crawl and my mind whirl. The first tears began to form in my eyes, and I blinked them rapidly to stop them from falling. Every inch of my body he touched felt poisoned, his breath left shivers of disgust on my face and neck.
He kissed me again, and I bit down on his lip, hard. He pulled back just to look at me with a smile, his blood dripping down his chin.
"Good idea, my dragonborn."
He descended upon me once again and he bit my bottom lip back, causing a sharp pain, but it was nothing compared to how he began to suck on my bleeding lip, making him moan. I scratched at him, I tried to kick and punch and bite back and did everything my body could, and yet all of it simply encouraged him, draining my hope by the second. He spoke quietly, like to a lover.
"Fight me, my dragonborn. Fight me, and show me your alluring willpower."
Then it hit me, the way to make him stop.
No…I will not fight you. I will fight you by not fighting you.
In this strange course of reasoning, my rebellious mind forced my limbs to relax, and the tension to melt. It took more willpower than I had ever remembered needing to submit and stop fighting him, but the reward came fast.
"What, what is this, my pet? You've given up?" He nuzzled my face and I let him, my eyes staring at the ceiling impassively. "Come on, you can't have submitted so easily!"
He leaned up for a minute to look at me, and I looked past the face of my abuser, hoping this rash plan worked.
And then, he began to chuckle. The chuckle turned into loud laughter before he grinned down at me, my body still restrained by his own.
"Are you fighting me…by not fighting me?!" He continued to laugh, and my mind whirled for a plan C.
"Oh, you truly are a brilliant pet, my dragonborn. Only you would fake being broken." He leaned down to my face, and then farther to bite my earlobe. He whispered into my ear. "But that is why I like you. You will never be broken." His tongue traveled from my ear down to my neck, then to my collarbone, to in between my breasts. I had begun to tremble. Not from fear, this time, but from pure, unadulterated anger. I growled, and I flinched as he ripped the top of my shirt.
I shut my eyes tight, and thought of Serana, of the way her hair flows in the wind, slightly pulled back. I thought of her soothing voice, of her soft and gentle hands, of her unguarded eyes.
I continued thinking of the happiest thing I could as I felt my body gradually being assaulted, and I kept thinking the same thing over and over, the only thing keeping the embarrassed, frustrated, angry, violated tears from falling.
Don't. Give. Him. The. Satisfaction.