Thank you all for your reviews everyone, it means so much to me when I see so many happy reviews :) And LOOK! I updated faster than I have done in the last few months! Hehehe XD

Anyway, hope you all like this chapter :)

I dedicate this chapter to redchillismoke, who has been so helpful with her feedback and the fact that she gave me my very own Daedric Prince name :D

"So, what are we going to do? We cannot allow Brelyna and Onmund to vanish again, especially if Brelyna is suffering as badly as I think she is."

Morgan agreed with Serana's comment by simply nodding.

"Maybe I should stay with Gabriella in Whiterun and we can gain some information about Olfrid. His routine, when he is alone and most vulnerable," Babette suggested.

"That's a good plan. We can keep an eye out while the two of you sort out what is wrong with your vampire friend," Gabriella agreed.

Morgan smiled.

"That's what we will do then. Hopefully, we will be back soon. Oh, and Babette?"

"Yes?"

"No biting."

"No promises," Babette smirked.

"I never though I would come back here ever again," Morgan sighed as she looked at the small hamlet of Helgen.

Serana gently took her hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"This must be hard for you."

"That was where the executioner was about to chop my head off when Alduin saved my life by interrupting the procedure," Morgan snorted as she pointed at the base of the tower. "I never thought the Divines had a sense of irony but it seems they do."

Morgan and Serana had made good time, managing to get to Helgen within a single day. They hadn't come across any wolves although they had come across a few dead bandits which had been on the receiving end of what looked like a large cave bear.

Looks better than what it did before everything went to shit, Morgan mused as she looked around, Serana's hand still gripping hers gently.

The tavern had been fully rebuilt and there were a few patrons sitting on the steps and drinking mugs of ale and singing merrily about something, although Morgan couldn't tell what it was due to how drunk they seemed to be. After mentally reminding herself to not drink from them because of the foul taste their blood would be right now, Morgan looked over to see a small collection of half-built houses running along one side of the wall.

"Come on Breton girl! The god's won't give us another chance! Inside the tower!"

Morgan always dreamt about Helgen every few nights, and even her vampiric side couldn't stave off the dreams. She always saw and heard Ralof's voice as she ran to the tower, feeling a red hot flame right behind her and narrowly missing her, Alduin's thu'um shattering the sky with unbridled power. She always saw the way that Ralof had looked at her as she had decided to escape with Hadvar instead, the look of someone who couldn't comprehend why she had done such a thing.

I didn't give a shit about the civil war. Hell, I had no idea there was one going on. All I know is that I tried to cross the border from Cyrodiil and ended up being caught in a battle, and instinctively killed one Imperial when he tried to impale me on his blade and then a Stormcloak when he swung his axe at someone and i thought it was aimed at myself...

Even as Morgan walked with Serana towards the tavern, she could still hear the events of that day in her head.

"Who are you?"

"Morgan Aurelius, from Bruma."

"Long way from High Rock, prisoner."

"I was born in Cyrodiil and that is my home. Do you have a fucking problem with that?"

"Hey, it was just an observation. I apologise."

"Forget it, it's not like it matters now anyway."

"Captain, what do we do? She's not on the list."

"Forget the list. She goes to the block. Maybe that will shut her up."

"Why don't you try and test that first?"

Morgan smiled a little at that moment. She still recalled how Hadvar had smiled slightly, his mouth twitching upwards as the Imperial captain had stomped away and him telling her to follow her.

"Are you alright?"

Morgan nodded and pulled Serana into an embrace.

"Even after all the time I spent adventuring Skyrim, the places I have been….coming here is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do."

"I'm here for you Morgan, no matter what happens."

"Thank you," Morgan said quietly as she pulled away and wrapped her arm round Serana's waist. "Let's go inside the tower. I can see some Imperial soldiers there so maybe one of them know if Brelyna and Onmund are still here."

"Good thinking. And we can get out of the sun as well. I don't know about you, but I wish we still had the bow with us."

Morgan laughed.

"It would make things easier but it would also piss off the Dawnguard. Maybe one day though."

The two vampires walked into the tower and Morgan nodded to one of the men, recognising him instantly.

"Nice to see you again Hadvar. I was just thinking about you."

"Dragonborn! It's good to see you again my friend," Hadvar replied as he held Morgan's outstretched hand and gently shook it.

"I see you still cannot use my name," Morgan grinned at him before letting go of Serana and embracing the taller Nord. "Good to see you again as well Hadvar."

Hadvar chuckled and shook Serana's hand as well before replying.

"Of all the places we would meet again….it had to be here."

"You think about that day too?"

"All the time," Hadvar sighed.

"Are you posted here for the time being?" Morgan asked after a few seconds.

"Aye. Rikke thought that because I was stationed here, that meant I knew the lay of the land and could take care of bandits and Stormcloak patrols. I guess she has a sense of humour after all."

Morgan giggled.

"Rikke with a sense of humour? Have you been drinking frostbite spider venom again?"

"I mixed the bottles up," Hadvar insisted.

"I had to carry your fat arse to Riverwood while you were blabbering about unicorns and why the sky was yellow," Morgan roared with laughter.

"Yes well, everyone has done it at some point."

"He has a point Morgan. Lydia told me about that time you and her drank something out of a bottle and it turned out to be sleeping sap. She also told me about when you were both running naked around Whiterun and…"

"Moving on!" Morgan said hurriedly as Hadvar laughed and Serana smirked at her. "We are looking for someone Hadvar. Maybe you could help us?"

"Of course. Follow me and we can talk in private."

Morgan nodded and they followed Hadvar up the staircase, and Morgan stopped once more as she noted the new mortar and stone blocks on the side of the tower.

"We just have to move the rubble and then we can ARRRRRGGH!"
"YOL….TOOR….SHUL!"

"By the God's! What was that? It spoke!?"

"Let's get the fuck out of here before it speaks again!"

"See that roof? Jump down there and try and get out of here! We will catch up if we can!"

"Good luck Ralof."

"You too! Now JUMP!"

"Fucking Alduin," Morgan muttered as she began walking again, Serana's hand finding it's way into hers once more.

"So, what brings you here Morgan? Knowing you, it must be serious enough to scare most of the dragons away from the area," Hadvar grinned.

"You have no idea," Morgan winked at him before becoming more sombre at what she was about to tell him. "We're looking for a vampire like Serana and myself."

"A vampire? I know you are not a pair of monsters but what makes you think this vampire is like you?"

"Because I was the one who turned her. Involuntarily at least. She saved my life Hadvar. She willingly gave her blood to heal me. And in return, she contracted the vampiric blood that changed her to the same bloodline Serana and I now share."

"I see."

"No, you don't my friend. She gave up her own mortality for me, and that is something that most people in Skyrim or indeed Tamriel wouldn't do," Morgan assured him quietly.

Hadvar nodded in understanding and cleared his throat.

"You better follow me."

"Where are we going?"

Hadvar grimaced.

"It would be easier to show you."

"Another place I never thought I would see again," Morgan muttered.

The torture room had changed massively since she and Hadvar had ran through the area the last time. The small cages were gone, and several beds were laid out instead, with a chest at the foot of every one. And every single bed was occupied.

Men and women were lying there, some of them moaning, while others slept quietly. But Morgan instantly detected the hidden problem that Hadvar had yet to mention.

"They are infected by vampirism," Serana said quietly as she walked over and gently lifted a sleeping woman's eyebrow, shaking her head when she spotted the irises changing colour from a light blue to the vibrant orange that she and Serana shared.

"I was afraid it would be that. We don't have any kind of healer here yet. Many of them are in the field in the war. Others simply refused to come when they were asked to come here," Hadvar said.

"You don't have any cure disease potions? Or even the alchemy ingredients needed to make them?" Serana asked as she walked back over.

"No, I wouldn't know anything about alchemy, and most of the men are in the same position."

"These will turn within a day or two," Serana said, "And if that happens, you will have to collapse this building because they will be ravenous, should they survive the transition."

"What do you mean, 'survive the transition?'"

Serana ran her hand through her hair in slight frustration. Morgan never said anything to her, but she knew that this was a way that Serana controlled her emotions when they got out of hand.

"The blood of the Volkihar is powerful. Most people don't survive the change. Their body simply cannot handle the power they are trying to harness while they cross from life into un-death," Serana explained. "Morgan survived because of her lineage as a mage as well as her dragon soul being dominant within her. But these people…I don't know if they will survive."

"Do you at least have alchemical ingredients Hadvar?" Morgan asked, "if so, Serana and I can make some cure disease potions within a few hours and save everyone the trouble of trapping a few potentially pissed off vampires."

Hadvar nodded.

"Just behind you. What used to be the 'observation cage' for the torturers."

Morgan nodded and looked at the cage, with the counters and once more, she saw the events of that fateful day.

"That's right, take all my things."

"You FUCKING ARSE! Don't you know what is going on? Hadvar is right! There is a fucking DRAGON and it's killing EVERYONE! So why don't you pull your head out of your fat arse and actually HELP by unlocking this FUCKING DOOR?!"

"What she said," Hadvar said with a chuckle.

"I'll go with you. Ignore him, he's a little soft in the head," the assistant replied.

"Thank you. Now then Mor…oh, you opened the lock yourself?"

Morgan smiled sadly as she pocketed the gold pieces and gently closed the unseeing mage's eyes with her fingers before replying.

"I did. Let's go before I fry someone's innards."

"You remember that moment too eh? I have to say, I got a good idea of what you were like personality wise," Hadvar said as he noted Morgan's pained expression.

"I have a big mouth. The only thing that's changed is that I can now use my mouth much more deadlier," Morgan smiled.

"Not kidding," Serana muttered, earning an elbow in the ribs from Morgan.

"Mudcrab chitin…charred skeever hide…vampire dust…" Morgan said quietly as she rummaged through the chests full of ingredients and ignoring the giggles coming from Serana.

She stood up and dumped the entirety of the ingredients onto the alchemy table nearby and started crushing the chitin first, looking at Serana briefly.

"Serana…maybe you should…"

"I'll talk to her." Serana said before turning to face Hadvar. "I know she is here. We could feel her presence since we came into the tower and obviously these people didn't get vampirism straight away."

"Follow me," was the only thing Hadvar could say before walking down the corridor.

Serana saw Onmund first. He was sleeping in a cell, his brown hair tussled and his mage robes were rumpled and creased, flecks of blood stains all over his chest and stomach region.

"He hasn't been bitten. He tried to help the others." Hadvar explained.

Serana nodded and looked across to peek inside the cell opposite Hadvar's. There were no torches within and at first glance, she thought nothing was in there. But then a pair of bright orange eyes appeared within the gloom and Serana relaxed slightly. She placed her hands on the cold steel bars of the cell and sighed.

"Brelyna. It's Serana. Come here so I can see you."

There was a hiss and Serana narrowed her eyes.

"Get your skinny Dunmer arse out here before I go in there and smack you one," Serana said, her voice steady and calm.

Hadvar placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, but Serana held her hand out to grip his wrist gently but firmly.

"No. She's frightened and worried. That will make things worse. Just let me take care of this."

Hadvar nodded and released his blade handle.

"Brelyna?"

Brelyna Maryon emerged from the dark and Serana smiled at her.

"Come on, you know it's me. Here, drink this. It will take the edge off and clear that blood rage filled mind of yours," she said, gently tossing a small blood bottle inside the cell.

Brelyna instantly grasped the bottle and drained the contents within seconds. She gulped a few times and blinked before looking back at Serana, beads of blood dripping down her chin.

"Serana? Shit…what did I do? Where's Onmund?!"

"Brelyna, calm yourself. Onmund is alive and well, he's sleeping in the cell opposite you. I'm coming in alright?"

"Where's Morgan?"

"Upstairs, taking care of the people you bit when you were starved. Don't worry about them, she's taking care of them right now," Serana assured her as she entered the cell and slowly wrapped an arm round Brelynas shoulder and sat the now-shivering vampire down onto the cot. "What happened?"

Brelyna took a deep breath.

"I cannot stand those shits anymore Onmund! I just.."

"It's just words love," Onmund replied as he caressed Brelynas hair with his free hand, the other one around her waist.

"Every one of them insult me behind my back when they think I am out of earshot! Every one of them is a back stabbing…"

"Brel, enough," Onmund insisted, using his nickname for her to get her attention. He smiled as she looked at him, her orange eyes meeting his blue ones. "I don't care about your gift. I don't care about what they say. The Arch Mage allowed you to come back because he doesn't discriminate against others, unlike Ulfric Stormcloak. You know he still thinks of you as a perfect student."

"Flatterer. But thank you all the same," Brelyna breathed as Onmund's lips met hers….

"UGH! That is fucking DISGUSTING! How in the name of Kynareth can you kiss that…."

Onmund was helpless as Brelyna leapt up from her seated position on his lap and sprinted over to the tall Nord male that had insulted her, grabbing him by the throat and picking him up easily.

"Brel! Don't!"

"What would you know Stone-Shield? You have no girl who likes you. I wonder why? Maybe it's the urine dribbling down your trousers like right now that is putting them off?"

"Brelyna! Stop!"

"I wonder what would happen if I bit you enough so that you would do anything I wanted?" Brelyna muttered, ignoring Onmund who was trying to move her arm without success. "Would you like that? Would you like to be my little pet?"

"Get…this crazy…bitch…off…"

"Brelyna, drop him right now!"

Brelyna hissed as Savos Aren ran across the courtyard but she still held the helpless apprentice aloft as she looked at him.

"Is this what you mean when you want us all to 'get along even though Brelyna has changed a little' Arch Mage? I heard your conversation with Tolfdir and Mirabelle! You think of me as a monster, not a student!"

"Brelyna, please. Let him down and we can talk about this!"

"J'Zargo agrees. Nothing good will come of this, I am sure."

"Fuck you cat. I see how you watch me out of the corner of your eye, praying I don't bite you when you aren't looking! Is this what I get for saving the Dragonborn's life? I wish I had…GAH!"

Onmund managed to get Brelyna's attention by slashing his forearm open with a small silver dagger and was holding it in front of her nose.

"You haven't drank in days Brel. Take mine like usual and we can talk this through."

Brelyna closed her eyes and then glared at the squirming man in her hand.

"Talk about us like that again if you dare."

She released him and Torvar Stone-Shield scampered away. Brelyna backed away from Onmund and his dripping forearm and shook her head.

"I cannot do this anymore Onmund. I'm sorry. It would be best if I went…"

"Dear girl, you aren't alone," Savos said softly.

Brelyna smirked now.

"You're right Arch Mage. I'm not alone. Two people can help me. But they aren't here. Goodbye, my love."

"WAIT!"

Brelyna smiled as she threw herself over the edge of the courtyard wall and down into the cold sea below, the sound of her love's words ringing in her ears….

"Fuck me," Serana murmured as she pulled Brelyna into an embrace, kissing the top of her hair. "I'm so sorry. I should have told you about what can happen after a lack of feeding."

"Onmund always offered his blood, so did J'Zargo and even the Arch Mage. But I couldn't take much more of the back talk and the fear that everyone seemed to have of me. That's why I came here. To get away from everyone," Brelyna said softly as she gripped Serana's hand.

"You know about how she came from here," Serana replied.

"Everyone did. In Whiterun and then Riverwood. But no-one seemed to know where she was, so I thought I would come here and stay away from people…maybe feed on bandits. You know, to do some good for a change."

"Don't say that. We all have that moment as a vampire when you stop feeding because you think about the outcome too much. Morgan and I were headed to Winterhold to find you in the first place, so everything's fine," Serana said, still stroking Brelyna's hair.

"Onmund followed me all the way. I don't know how he did, but he managed to find me here just after I attacked those people. They tried to corner me, saying a vampire would fetch a good price for the Jarl of Falkreath. I had no choice, but I didn't mean to bite them…I just wanted them to…."

"Shhhhhh," Serana whispered as she held her tightly. "Morgan and I will take care of everything. You rest okay?"

"Stay here please? I don't trust anyone else apart from the officer here."

"His name is Hadvar and you can trust him," Serana said as she nodded to the bulky man standing on the other side of the bars.

"That was the officer I was on about," Brelyna sniffed.

Serana laughed.

"Don't worry Brelyna. We will sort everything out."

"I hope so," Brelyna said softly. "I really hope so…."