Somehow Serana managed to get Skylar over to an inn where she placed the smaller girl onto a bed where Skylar curled herself up into a little ball after moving over to the corner and away from Serana.

All the vampire could do was watch as Skylar trembled and whimpered, scratching at her neck every now and then as time went on. Serana had never seen her in such a state and she knew it was all that stupid Collar's fault, and not only that… As she thought back she realized that the creature that jumped on Skylar had been a werebear… So the wearbear had a collar? That could only mean one thing… Her father was truly working with the monsters…

Another small whimper pulled Serana out of her thoughts just as she began to bite her thumbnail. When did she start biting her nails? That was new.

The Vampire stepped over to the bed and crawled onto the mattress to try and get closer to Skylar for like the hundredth time within a hour… She reached a hesitant hand out to touch the smaller girl's shoulder… But like all of the other attempts Skylar reacted like she had either been struck or burned really badly.

There was a sorrowful cry that was mixed with anguish and agony before she curled into herself even more. The sight was heart breaking. This normally strong, playful, free young woman was now a little trembling ball of anguish… Serana truly didn't know what to do. All she knew at that point was she had to figure out how to get that bloody collar off… But how? She didn't have the key.

The key to all of the collars was around her father's neck… One key of all the collars… How was she going to get it? She couldn't just leave Skylar here alone like this either, nor was Skylar in any condition to travel. Serana had to carry Skylar to that inn as it was. And the entire time Skylar had fought tooth and nail to get away from Serana.

The inn owner nearly called the guards. Serana had to make up a story about Skylar being too drunk to know what was going on and that Serana just wanted a room where she could take her friend to sober up until morning and where Serana could watch over her safely and not have to worry about any horrible people doing anything bad to her dear friend.

It turns out that Serana was a really good story teller. The inn keeper believed her and even let her have the room for free… But how was she going to explain Skylar in the morning… Skylar was acting like a very seriously wounded animal that wouldn't let anyone near her. Serana would not be able to carry her out of that place without worrying people. Telling one lie to an innkeeper was one thing… Telling another lie on top of the first was a completely different story that Serana didn't want to have to do.

"Skylar…" Serana loomed over Skylar with her lips close to her ear. "Listen to me." She whispered before she waited a few seconds. A little smile of hope appeared on Serana's lips as she watched as Skylar's body calmed down ever so slightly. "It's me Serana… I know you are in there somewhere… I promise you that I am going to get that collar off… I promise… But for now you are going to have to hold on, ok? It is going to take a bit longer than I had hoped… Do you remember that key around my father's neck? I need that key before anything can be done… I will get that key… And my father will pay… I promise you." Serana whispered.

Her hand moved so that her fingers were brushing the hair out of Skylar's face. "For now… I really need you to fight it… I need you to stay strong for me, don't lose hope… I am right here…" Serana's eyes filled with tears that she quickly wiped away with the back of her hand. She refused to cry, she was not the one who should be crying. She had to be strong for Skylar's sake… She was the one who was in a world of Agony at the moment. Not Serana.

The Vampire looked around the small room of the inn. She still didn't know what it was she was going to do once morning came… Maybe she would be able to carry Skylar out of there before anyone noticed?

Just as she was about to get lost in the horrors of her own thoughts Skylar's body began to shift on the bed completely shocking Serana.

"Skylar?" She yelped when she realized that Skylar was now laying on her back with her arms wrapped around herself as if she was freezing.

"Serana…" Skylar was looking up at her with tear filled tired eyes. She sniffled slightly before she quickly blinked her tears away. "I'm so sorry…" She whispered. "I almost…"

"Shhhh." Serana hushed her by placing a finger against Skylar's trembling lips. Where she was extremely happy hearing Skylar's voice, she was not about to let Skylar finish that sentence, because she knew it was not true. Skylar would never hurt her, and if she had hurt her somehow during that incident it would not have been Skylar's fault. That creature that had Serana pinned to the ground was not Skylar. That was something else, that may have been Skylar's body but that was not Skylar in control. Either way, Skylar had been able to keep the beast at bay and keep Serana safe. "Just rest…" Serana whispered as she watched Skylar's eyes. The twinkle was there.

Serana cupped Skylar's face and leaned her forehead against her's. "I am going to stay here with you, ok? And then when morning comes we need to get out of here before anyone realizes… I don't want to draw too much attention. After that…" Serana trailed off. She didn't know what she was going to do after that… She still had some planning to do…

It was at that moment she really wished that the companions were there to help. They would have been able to help her with Skylar, and maybe they would have already been hunting for her father. And maybe they would have already had known where he was and just maybe they would have already been after him to get that key.

Seranan didn't like the companions… But they really got things done.

Without them this was going to be a very slow process….

She wondered if she sent a letter telling them what happened if they would come and help…

Especially Aela. That wolf acted like Skylar was her best friend all the time. If she found out that Skylar was in trouble she would come and help… Right?

Serana gave her head a shake as Skylar slowly rolled herself back onto her side where she curled back into the little ball she had been in just moments before. She watched for a second as Skylar began to shiver.

She was cold.

Serana reached over and grabbed a blanket that she used to cover Skylar up with. She even pulled off her cloak and draped that over her shivering form as well.

She hopped up off the bed and made her way over to the fire place where she started a fire with a quick spell and added a few more logs. She made her way back to the bed where she laid down and began to rub soothing circles into Skylar's back.

"Rest, my love. I may not know what the morning will bring, but I will keep that promise. That I know for sure… Even if I have to call in some friends to help me…"

She gave a small sigh of relief when she saw Skylar nod her head slowly.

With a moment of Hesitation Serana moved closer until her front was pressed against Skylar's back and her arms were wrapped around the smaller girl. The blanket and the cloak were a barrier that kept them separated, but it seemed like having Serana that close calmed Skylar even more.

Ever so slowly did Skylar stop shivering long enough for her to fall into a restless sleep.

And all Serana could do was watch and hold the girl wishing that this had all been some terrible dream.