Author Notes
Soundtrack recommendation: Apocalypse by Metalite
~~-x-~~
27th of Sun's Dusk
It took the better part of two days for Serana to get her strength back. The battle with Isran proved more taxing than she cared to admit. Part of her still couldn't believe he was dead now. All she wanted was revenge for everything. She shouldn't have given in to the urge, but her instincts were too hard to contain. Knowing what he did was just too much. She almost died and knew he couldn't do that to another ever again.
The group took a couple nights in Bruma while Matria sniffed around the city. The house Tenaya occupied sat very empty with nothing but dust everywhere. She didn't see any indications of her staying just from the looks alone. Only one thing managed to catch her eye while there, all the missing ingots. Matria knew of the armor Tenaya made while here and the excess of everything she left.
Matria walked through the house very slowly. She looked at everything in detail to find some sort of hint. They needed her more than anyone knew. Her fingers pulled up the hidden floorboard. Inside everything sat empty unlike before, except for one thing. Tenaya had been here at some point. The small bottle with the missing cork wasn't the easiest thing to get to. Trying to get it from under the house became a challenge. Her fingers and arm stretched deeper with her head sinking down to the hole just to touch the rim.
Slowly the bottle came from under the house. Matria took one smell knowing the contents all too well. "Blood..." Matria tasted it, noticing the subtle sweetness without decay. Tenaya was here more recent than they realized. She may only be a couple days ahead from the looks of it. Matria didn't waste a moment further, stuffing the bottle inside her cloak and leaving the house. She returned to the Inn where both Ivy and Serana waited in a room.
"It looks like we are on the right track. I found this hidden under the house. You and I know unspoiled blood means she was here rather recently." Matria said, proud of what she found to the point of arrogance.
"Looks like you were right on this one. Tastes fresh enough." Serana replied with a small lick of the bottle to test it herself. "I want to go to her house and look around myself. I knew a little bit of Tenaya and have a feeling there is something there to help us. She wouldn't just throw everything out."
Matria nodded as they gathered everything up. Serana moved a little tenderly on her feet still. Ivy helped her slip the armor on to ensure nothing happened with her body still aching. Ivy never complained about helping either of them. She started to learn everything they did without complaint. A few days ago, Ivy never knew what a pure-blooded vampire was or even looked like. Watching Matria transform before her very eyes and show her what it meant scared her to the point of fumbling. If that wasn't enough, Serana showed her their strength, a strength not even Matria knew existed.
They collectively walked through the streets of Bruma with eyes following their movements. The city welcomed them just like the Nords in Skyrim did, with trepidation. Matria opened the door to the house for all of them to enter. Serana went in last and took a moment to see everything for what it was. This house was where she chased Tenaya to. The house Tenaya stayed in looked so different from anything in Skyrim. This shack for what it was looked more like the givings of a destroyed woman than it did someone like Tenaya.
"Tenaya took some stuff from here. When I came here last to get her help with the Dawnguard, a bag of various ingots fell to the floor and she stacked them before we left." Matira said to get information out. It didn't seem to matter, Serana walked around almost in a trance.
"This is where you hid from me Tenaya. You gave up luxury in Skyrim for this…" Serana mumbled under her breath. "All of this to escape me and the pain." Serana yanked open the dresser drawers wanting to see everything here.
Her fingers moved the clothing aside when she saw the book underneath. Opusculus Lamae Bal. Serana's fingers moved across the book knowing what it was about. Tenaya wanted to know so much about who she was and all there was. She turned back to Matria and handed her the book. "It seems you were the catalyst for Tenaya to come back to Skyrim. She never stopped wanting answers to understand me."
Matria looked at the book, flipping through the pages never having read it or seen this before. As she skimmed, her eyes widened more and more to the volume. Serana however, didn't stop looking. She flipped through the rest of the dresser to find more secrets. Little pieces of her past slowly started to come out the deeper they dug.
Looking over the books, Serana let it sink in how much of her being Tenaya wanted to know. She shut her out for the longest time and all Tenaya wanted was something, anything. Her journal spoke volumes to the way she thought. Serana almost felt guilty opening it up to see what was inside. This journal, buried under a false bottom in the lowest drawer of the dresser, seemed to hold the secrets to what made Tenaya who she was. Serana flipped to the first page seeing the date clearly. This journal came just after she left Tenaya to die…
~~-x-~~
14th of Second Seed, 4E 203
I spent the better part of the last week trying to come to grips with reality. Nothing made sense anymore. The woman I loved stabbed me in the heart and left me for dead. To make it worse, I ended up tortured by the people who said they would forever be allies for what we did with that damn prophecy. So much for taking care of friends.
The wound in my chest appears to finally be healing. Fallon wasn't sure I would survive with the way it looked. Battling the vampirism turned out to be the least of my problems. What little strength I had left vanished the moment I came back to normal. How could I stay a vampire when the only reason I did it was for her?
~~-x-~~
17th of Second Seed, 4E 203
Ser…
Sera…
Demon…
Daedra Spawn
I can't even bring myself to say her name. At this point, I called her the Daedra Spawn. I tried to write it on the pages previous and couldn't even manage to put it on paper. Everything about her hurts. Damn the Daedra Spwan for ever existing. Damn the Dawnguard for ever asking me to look in that stupid crypt to solve their problems. What changed her so much? We adventured together and I thought what we had was real. I let her change me to a vampire just to stay with her forever. Now all I want is to watch her die, slowly, painfully, without any remorse in my eyes. I imagine new ways to see it happen. How badly I want to be there to see her suffer.
~~-x-~~
25th of Second Seed, 4E 203
I took my first steps from my house today. Felt good to get some air. The sun feels different these days. The warmth I remember just isn't there. At least the wound healed up enough to stop bleeding now. I really didn't care to go out until that happened. DS does nothing more than piss me off. Its probably best we are not together. Seeing the type of scum DS was makes me realize I should have killed her in that crypt. Maybe her father was right and she served no point in life beyond fulfilling a prophecy. She surely isn't good with people's hearts.
~~-x-~~
29th of Second Seed, 4E 203
I finally found something that takes the pain away. I stocked up on so many bottles of wine they wondered if I had some sort of party going on. Much to their dismay, I simply took it to my house and plan to go nowhere for a while. Screw everyone who things I need to have company to be happy. Now if I could get these nightmares about her to go away, things would be great. DS manages to haunt my every night as if knowing she exists isn't enough. She needs to just die.
Die
Die
Die DS
~~-x-~~
19th of Mid Year, 4E 203
Forgetting her seems to be getting easier the more I drink. I can actually write her name now without wanting to kill her. I am not sure how I am writing it is proper anyway, but it sure feels good to get some of this aggression out of my system. It is all her fault anyway. She wanted me dead and I cannot wait until she finds out she failed. Serana isn't worth the time of life.
On a positive, I managed to sell the last of my supplies and armor. The days of Tenaya helping people or fighting are long over. I kept a dagger for protection and that is about all. The blacksmith here was more than happy to give me gold for the armor sets and resell them at double. I didn't want them anymore so who cares. All of it means nothing. I might even change my name just to keep the locals from ever hearing a story. The last thing I want is one of those stupid Nords ever coming through the pass and talking about the adventures of Tenaya Darix. What I wouldn't give for them to realize the truth.
~~-x-~~
Serana continued to flip through the pages with her name all over it and flames burning it or a dagger through each letter. Tenaya really hurt for the longest time. To think she turned to drinking to solve her problems came more as a shock than anything. The journal brought tears to her eyes. Ivy and Matria stopped looking around a few minutes prior to see the reactions. A hand grabbed hers until Serana sat down on the bed shaking her head again.
"I had no clue. All of this is my fault. Damn Boethiah and all these Daedra for their games. I want them to suffer like she did." Serana wept out loud.
"Let's find her and get her back. She needs to see people care." Ivy said.
Serana nodded and stuffed the journal inside her armor. She wouldn't let this go without talking to Tenaya. It came down to clearing the air if they ever saw her again. Knowing just how badly she suffered changed the complexion of everything. It is no wonder Tenaya struggled to find her feelings again or pushed her to find herself. She didn't want to put herself out there for nothing again. Serana couldn't bring herself to leave yet, needing a moment to herself. Ivy and Matria stepped out leaving Serana alone in the house with the journal.
The inkwell on the table proved to be useful. Serana turned to the very last page and took the time to write the missing pieces that Tenaya couldn't.
The pain I caused will never be undone. The pain you never deserved. All you should feel is the warmth you gave everyone on their darkest day. I will help you remember and erase the nightmares.
Serana cut her hand open and used her own blood to sign her name at the bottle. It was her promise to Tenaya if they ever found her again, written in blood, before the eyes of the gods.
~~-x-~~
Tenaya collected the key to her house having never been here before. All she wanted was someplace where no one would find her. This place was nothing more than a failsafe if the Dawnguard came looking for her in Bruma. It felt strange being in a land like this. Nothing about it seemed to really be like she knew. The mountain constantly erupted with ash constantly coming down. It felt a lot different than Skyrim ever did.
"There you go outlander. The house at the edge of town on the northern slope. Do you need a guide?" The Dunmer asked.
"I will be fine. What can you tell me of this place? I know nothing of the city."
"Suran is a common town outlander. If you seek entertainment, visit Desele's House of Earthly Delights. The former guilds still reside here and share new names. If you need supplies, there are shops to help. Bandits do roam the streets at night so arm yourself properly."
His attitude to outsiders made Tenaya feel even less welcome. At least her eyes didn't seem to matter around here with the constant red glow from all the Dunmer. She managed to fit in rather well from the looks of it. Of all the problems, this looked like the least of them.
Tenaya left the business and went about her business. She walked through the town wanting to see everything it had to offer. Ever guard remained weary of the new person walking through town. She didn't seem to mind much and went for her house, sitting at the very northern most point in the town against the slopes. She looked around, noticing the way this place felt. She chose to abandon all she cared for and couldn't look back now.
Inside, the house felt very old. Dust and cobwebs covered everything. She walked around the lower level having the basics without much else. The upstairs had a small guest room with a bed and the main room with a dresser and bed. It would have to work for the current time. If what she knew of Velatin and the Daedra, finding her would only be a matter of time. She chose this place to hold her final moments to free her friends from a similar fate.
For what the house had, it seemed about right. Tenaya retreated to the bedroom and removed the cloth blankets from the bed. Everything seemed in good order for her to get some rest. She debated taking the Silt Strider but decided against it for fear of being recognized by the wrong person. She desired to remain as hidden as possible took priority over all other things. Now, she only had to wait for the pending visit from Velatin.
Tenaya closed her eyes to rest wanting nothing more than peace and quiet. The city made no noise as she passed to the dream word. Inside her head, things were anything but peaceful. Her legs kicked around restless, mumbles escaped her lips feeling something pulling at her from another world.
"Tenaya!" The voice screamed out. It was one she knew all too well.
Astronica walked across burning flowers, an entire world engulfed in flame. She ran from figures chasing her every move. Her voice screamed only one name the entire time. Tenaya watched on, helpless, seeing the shadows chasing her from behind. Nothing slowed their approach, fields burning with waterfalls turning red.
Tenaya woke up feeling the nightmare taking her hopes of peaceful sleep with it. Her hands trembled at the feelings of despair. She stared at the roof above wanting it all to end sooner than later, her misery over.
~~-x-~~
Velatin stomped on the flowers ahead of the flames. Moonshadow was not worthy of its name. He brought the weapon the others gifted him. They didn't have power here, but he surely did. He knew exactly what to do and how to get there. He opened the gates and never looked back. The minions lit the first flames on Moonshadow as Dremora rushed through the gates.
Everything peaceful stood no chance. This was a slaughter of all things happy and peaceful. The Dremora walked without a care, serving their masters the same as Velatin. Moonshadow had their guardians only to prevent sure nightmares, each of them slowly fell, cut down without mercy.
"Where is your champion now Azura? Astronica is too weak to save you now." Velatin yelled at the foot of her temple, white marble with water flowing over the edges.
A beam of light fired down with almost no affect on him. The Dremora exploded into the air leaving just a crater with Velatin standing there. "I am a Guardian of Moonshadow, your powers are useless against me."
Astronica appeared at the front of the temple, conjuring an Ancient Atronach. Velatin dispatched it as quickly as she summoned with the Cursed One. One swipe and it vanished from the realm like it never existed. He walked through her flames without a care for any of them. Azura appeared between the two, protecting the last of her guardians.
"You have no power here Velatin. I banished you ages ago!" Azura said with a beam of light and a smile.
Velatin flew backwards with pain shooting through his body. He took the best shot Azura could manage. She let her ring glow, sending massive circles of light through the air and around. Dremora fell to the ground when it reached them, suffering from the power of the Daedra herself. She unleashed energy to wipe out anyone who dared challenge her in Moonshadow.
Then it stopped. Azura dropped to her knees with a strange spear stuck through her chest. Her eyes met those of Astronica who looked on in tears. Her savior fell to the ground, bending over. A roar erupted from within Moonshadow as the fires returned. Astronica took off through the flowers as fast as her legs would take her. She had to escape and get out before it was too late. Others needed to know what happened here.
"Tenaya!" Astronica screamed at the top of her lungs wanting badly to find the woman who abandoned them.
Velatin yanked the spear from the body of Azura and threw her over his shoulder. He had part of his prize and would collect the reward from his masters. Surely this proved him worthy of her replacement in their eyes. Velatin would ascend to their level through the body of Azura. The swing of balance would no longer be the House of Good with the removal of its head. Azura sat on his shoulder with no chance of remaining. No champion came to her aid.