The Heart of a Daedra
By The Grey Knight
Chapter 27:
Having walked almost non-stop for nearly three days, Sjern finally caught sight of the place where his old nightmares had been set. Taking a deep breath, he pointed to the small jetty that would take them across the water to the castle.
"There. That's our passage to the castle."
Upon reaching the island, Sjern shuddered as the memories of the Dawnguard's assault on the castle came rushing back to him. The clanging of clashing blades, the sickening crack of bones as Isran crushed vampires under his colossal hammer, the shriek of the Dawnguard Initiates as the crumpled under a barrage of Vampiric Drain spells. Shaking his head, Sjern focused on the matter at hand, getting in there and seeing if Sunclaw or any of her associates were in the castle.
Prying an Elven Dagger from the frozen hands of one of the now rotting corpses on the ground, Sjern cautiously approached whilst Infernus cloaked himself and made his own way over. Taking a deep breath once he reached the large front door, Sjern raised his right boot and, with an almighty kick, forced the door open. As soon as he kicked the door, he jumped into a small niche and waited. If there was anyone in there, they would most likely come to the door to see what had forced it open. For five minutes he waited in silence before venturing out of his niche and stepping into the main hall. To the eyes of any other adventurer, the place would still seem abandoned since Harkon's fall but Sjern was far more perceptive. A small trail of smoke was rising from two of the candles on the table and there was a small puddle of fresh blood on the ground. Then Sjern heard it. A faint but definite sound of droplets hitting the puddle of blood followed by an even quieter creaking sound. Without thinking, Sjern jumped forward, clearing the table, just as a badly wounded Sunclaw landed where he had been standing.
Getting to his feet, Sjern looked his would-be attacker up and down. Her wing was still shredded and her severed arm was bleeding slowly. Her expression was a mixture of pain and anger as she made eye contact with him.
"How dare you bring your filth into my home Volz!" She screamed, her voice echoing. Waving her metal arm, two more vampires dragging an unconscious Infernus stepped out from a dark corner.
"Now, drop your dagger, get down on your knees and tell me where that traitorous whore that my master called a daughter is before I have my friends tear the mage in two!"
Sjern looked over at his friend who was still being held up by the two vampires. Looking back at Sunclaw, he lowered his dagger but did not drop it.
"Let him go first Sunclaw. Then you can have me and the information you're looking for. Refuse my offer and I swear to all I hold dear that I will rend you all limb from limb should any harm come to him."
Sunclaw seemed shocked by Sjern's reaction, despite expecting him to resist, she clearly did not expect him to risk endangering the Breton. Glaring at Sjern, she now could see why her master wanted him either recruited or dead, preferably the latter. The Dragonborn emanated raw power and she could tell that he would make good on his promise. Raising her hand once more, she indicated to the two vampires to loosen their hold on the fire mage. Keeping her hand in the air, the new Mistress of Castle Volikhar slowly approached the Dragonborn, her eyes locked on his. When she was within a couple of inches of his face she stopped and lowered her hand, telling the other two to completely let go of the Breton.
"You're full of courage Dragonborn, has anyone told you that? It takes a strong hearted being to dare risk what you have just said. Drop the dagger and I'll have them awaken your friend and let him go free."
Sjern however, had other ideas. As much as he hated acting through deception, he couldn't pass up such an opportunity. Extending his arm, his closed his hand around the vampire's throat, spun her, pulled her in close and held the dagger to her throat. Looking over at the vampires, Sjern tightened his grip around Sunclaw's neck.
"Get away from him or watch your mistress' head roll across this floor!"
The two male vampires were so surprised that they heeded his words and backed away from Infernus.
"This is unlike you Dragonborn." Sunclaw chided, wriggling to try and get free. Sjern simply tightened the grip he had on her neck and wrenched her backwards.
"People change." Sjern replied angrily.
To his surprise, he heard Sunclaw force a laugh.
"What do you find funny this time Vampire?" Sjern said menacingly.
"You, Dragonborn. Perhaps you are not as powerful as you think."
Again Sjern wrenched the Khajiit backwards, causing her to grunt in pain.
"Explain yourself scum! Before I tear you apart!"
Sunclaw laughed again before speaking.
"My Master! He has corrupted your mind, Dragonborn. I can feel it. Soon, your thoughts will not be your own, your actions will not be determined by you, and your free will shall become imprisoned behind bars of corruption! Your mighty name and power will belong to The Secluded One, for he shall rule both this world and the Planes!"
Sjern was so shocked by what she said that his grip on the vampire loosened enough for her to slip free. Quickly regaining his composure, Sjern focused his attention on the two vampires who accompanied Sunclaw. Barging past his old enemy, Sjern threw the Elven dagger at the closest vampire, the blade lodging itself in his throat. The second vampire was ready for Sjern however and fired a Drain Health spell at him.
Sjern could feel his throat tighten and his heartbeat speed up as his life force was sucked from his body. With an almighty push of his legs, he launched himself at the vampire, tackling him to the ground. Rather than mercilessly beat the vampire however, Sjern grabbed his wrist and, just as his enemy attempted to fire a second Drain Health spell, Sjern twisted it so that the spell connected with its caster instead. Despite being in control of the spell, the vampire's life drained so quickly that he could not summon the strength to cancel the spell and soon was left no more than an empty shell.
Getting to his feet, Sjern turned slowly, locking eyes with Sunclaw. Her anger was palpable, having been thwarted once again by his actions.
"Is there no one who I can trust to kill you?" She shrieked, her eyes bulging.
Sjern felt a smile tug on his lips.
"If you want me dead vampire, you're going to have to kill me yourself!"
Sjern's deep voice echoed through the main hall of Castle Volikhar.
Snarling, Sunclaw began to strafe to her left, never taking her eyes off of Sjern.
"Why do you persist in protecting those that inhabit this land? What have they ever done for you? Were it not for the forces of evil, your head would have rolled along the streets of Helgen. It was the very creature you vanquished that saved you Volz. Face it, my old master could have murdered you on the spot when you returned his daughter to this place. He spared you out of his own goodwill. You should be dead Dragonborn! The only reason you continue to survive is your enemies' mercy. Well enough is enough! You once stood here, offered a chance at eternal power! Now I shall slay you with the very gift you refused!"
Sjern watched calmly as the Khajiit began to convulse once again, her shape changing to her more powerful vampiric form. Roaring at him, she flew forward, claws and fangs bared. Rather than dodge or even strike back immediately, Sjern dug down deep for a power he had not used in a while. He felt his arms and legs grow thicker as he called upon his Beast Form. Only, something was wrong. Rather than his arms become covered with thick fur, his skin turned rough and leathery. He felt himself grow taller and broader as per usual but he did not hunch over. Instead, he felt more powerful than he ever had before in his life. Suddenly however, his head split in two with pain and it was not until Sjern grasped his head in his hands that he felt two sharp horns protruding from his forehead. Distracted by both pain and the shock of his new transformation, Sjern barely had time to remember the vampire rushing towards him. He braced himself for impact, but none came. Instead, Sunclaw, still in her vampire form, hovered on the spot, her mouth agape with equal shock.
Sjern looked down at his hands, now black and leathery, almost like the skin of an Argonian. His entire physique had become colossal and hulking. What surprised Sjern the most however, was the fact that he could still think clearly. Usually, while in his Beast Form, he became a mindless animal, intent on tearing whatever was in his path to shreds. Now however, he had become so much more powerful than his Beast Form but he still had his own thoughts in check. Deciding on impulse to embrace this new power rather than waste it, Sjern rushed forward with beyond mortal speed and slammed into Sunclaw, causing her to shriek out once again in pain.
"Wha- What are you?!" The Khajiit exclaimed fearfully, getting to her feet.
When Sjern spoke, he found his voice was not his own but rather a much harsher and deeper voice.
"I am your death vampire! Today, we finish this!"
Just as he lurched forward once more in an effort to grab Sunclaw, she bolted to the left. Sjern was quicker however, moving faster than he had ever moved in his life, seized her by the shoulder and tossed her into the grand table nearby, fracturing the polished oak. As he walked over to her fallen body, Sjern could feel a rage he had never felt before build in him. This beast was the reason that they had gone through so much. She was the reason he had gone through so much pain and more importantly, why his friends had gone through so much pain. Grabbing her by her good wing, Sjern wrenched her into the air and slammed her back to the ground, tearing her second wing off, causing her to yelp in pain, tears flooding from her cheeks.
"I never knew a vampire lord could shed tears!" Sjern bellowed, tossing her now severed wing aside.
He looked down without remorse at the fallen vampire lord before raising his hand striking her across the jaw, drawing blood from her lip. Lifting her high above his head, he dropped her right in front of him, hoisting his knee up as he did so, almost folding her spine in half with a sickening 'crack'. Relentlessly, Sjern pummelled Sunclaw into the ground with his massive fist. He raised his fist one last time and he could tell from the look in Sunclaw's eyes that she knew these moments were her last. She had become so weak, that she had reverted back to her original form. Seeing no other alternative, Sunclaw shot up from where she lay and wrapped her arms and legs around Sjern's abdomen and neck, refusing to let go.
"Pitiful." Sjern spat, grabbing her by one of her ears and wrenched her off of him. Holding her in place with one hand, he clenched his fist and struck her precisely on the temple, hitting her so hard that her skull caved in, leaving an indent in her head. Slamming her head to the ground, Sjern raised his foot and brought it down even harder on her now vulnerable head, hearing the satisfactory sound of her skull cracking echo through the grand hall of Castle Volikhar. At long last, after so much suffering, Sunclaw was finally dead.
Grunting in pain as he reverted back to his human form, Sjern looked at his hands once more. Strangely, Sjern did not regret his actions in the slightest. He had completely destroyed the Khajiit and yet he felt nothing more than relief that she was finally finished.
Sjern took one last look at the mangled corpse of Sunclaw.
"Fear not Khajiit" he said aloud "You shall be reunited with your master soon! That much I promise you."
Well this is slightly embarrassing. What with the Leaving Cert exams, work through summer and starting college, I haven't had time to continue this story. I hope that my return to writing is not a poor one. I am both happy and unhappy with this chapter for several reasons which I won't bother you with. I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it. Talos guide you all! Peace!