24th Sun's Dusk… ?
Serana stood on the steps, observing the frightening scene before her. The cold acerbic wind blew sand around her body, but that didn't trouble her as much as how the place looked. The swirling purple sky was filled with angry blue-gray clouds of the storm that should have been raging, but wasn't. The air itself was filled with constant static, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. The ground was a dull shade of brown, dead and lifeless. The ruined buildings stood against the dim colors in silhouette. The bitter chill that coursed through her wasn't from the blowing gale, but from the hellish scene she now stood in. She stood rooted, studying the area at the very top of the staircase. Around them were basaltic columns of unusual shapes. Monolithic, yet skeletal in detail. Odd carved holes which weren't natural caught her attention and forced her to linger on them for a moment longer than she felt comfortable doing. She wasn't sure why. Out in the distance looked to be a vast ruined city, clear-cut even through the unusual haze. Purplish light flowed from the towers to the sky. She could even make out what looked like fragments of rock floating in the air. She glanced back at Azriel, who wore an astonished look on her face as she stared at the new world around them. Neither could have been prepared for what they were seeing. The oddity of it all reminded her of something she never wanted to remember.
Another chill ran through her and the cracking of thunder made her jump. Everything about the place made her skin crawl. It was a place of decay and changelessness. The stuff of nightmares, yet she couldn't stop looking at it and wondered if her mother still lived. This place made her realize that even the greatest wasteland of Nirn could hold beauty in comparison to this plane of Oblivion. Her blood seemed to run colder. They had only just crossed into the Soul Cairn and already she was questioning her decision. An ancient fortress wall encompassed them in the distance and she took it as one more ominous sign. Towers ran the length of it, paced about every one hundred feet, yet no corporeal person stood watch over it. Serana looked up, the vortex in the sky spun around a black hole. The electrical charges migrated down and out from it. Rock fragments swirled directly overhead where the stairs led back to tower which they had descended from. She looked only at the sky. The queerest part was the single moon. Something in the back of her mind tugged at her and she desperately wanted to lift Azriel up to carry her home to safety. But, she knew if she did that, eventually even Nirn wouldn't be safe with her father on his war path. The ever shrinking part of her confidence was anxious to find her mother, then run as fast as they could back to the portal. She made up her mind to find her fast and leave even faster.
Serana stepped down to the circular platform a few feet below them and watched orbs of purple light fly through the landscape. Within the haze were the soft blue essences of the souls that lingered. She looked at the landscape carefully. She noted dead trees and ruined walls lining the path. She strained her vision into the fog realizing that the jutted rocks were actually innumerable graves. The headstones were washed blank by the gritty air. Strange sponge-like plants dotted around the granitic rocks and dead brush. Everywhere she looked, the dull brown ground only held dead brush, the spongy plants, and smooth rock. Nothing green or living grew. In a way it was surreal and in another it was alarming. Everything here was dead.
She was so transfixed on her inhospitable surroundings she never had time to catch herself as Azriel crashed into her. The pair tumbled down the steps, slamming into the ground far below them. Her instincts kicked in and Serana shoved herself off the ground, the acrid soil clinging to her hands and face. She turned towards the crumpled heap to her right, only to watch the Dragonborn begin to cough as though she was trying to catch her breath. Asking Azriel if she was okay seemed pointless as she knelt by her side. Her coughing fit persisted as she rolled from her back to her hands and knees. Serana ran her hand over Azriel's back, watching as Azriel fumbled desperately with the buckle on her back scabbard. Serana helped her remove it when she managed to unbuckle it. But, Azriel was still struggling for air. Her coughing had lessened, but her breath was ragged as if she was taxed. Serana eased her back, helping her remove her ruck sack then armor. Azriel didn't protest as Serana pulled her cuirass off. They stayed at the bottom of the steps for several minutes as Azriel slowly got her breathing under control.
"Are you alright now?" Serana ran her fingers lightly through Azriel's hair.
Azriel only nodded.
Serana smirked. "Why is it I don't believe you?"
Azriel shook her hair into her face and Serana smoothed it away. Her smirk waned as she looked in to the dull ochre of Azriel's eyes. At first she thought that it was the color change that bothered her. It wasn't the color of her eyes, but the missing spark and her fear. "I know something is wrong. Talk to me."
Azriel shook her head no.
Serana took a breath and Azriel opened her mouth to speak. "Where is my soul?"
Serana's closed her eyes with remorse. "They took it…" When she opened them, Azriel was staring off into the distance.
They had been walking for hours. In that time, Serana had grown weary with concern for her lover. Azriel had declined over the hours to the point where she refused to speak. Her foot falls were uncharacteristically heavy and dragging. Her breathing was ragged, as if each step was excruciating and she had adopted a painfully slow pace. Azriel had systematically stripped all her armor and weapons off, save her dragon priest dagger. Her hair and clothing were soaking with perspiration. She shivered constantly from what Serana could only guess was strain and the cold. Serana wondered silently if they were only chasing echoes beyond death. Was her desire to see her mother worth the toll? She glanced at Azriel again. She watched the tension in her face as Azriel fought for each step.
It had only been ten minutes since the last time they were attacked. Azriel had collapsed immediately after fighting three skeletons. Serana pondered how much her use of magic was affecting her. Even her fire had been erratic, forming tendrils which whipped outwardly towards the skeletal warriors. That bothered Serana as well. The flaming coils had reminded her of her visions with Azriel's own blood. Serana pushed the brush aside, allowing Azriel to step through.
Then Azriel froze.
As they had traveled, countless souls had wandered the Soul Cairn. None of them had seemed to bother Azriel. Only once had she stopped to speak to a soul. He had been desperate, searching for his horse Arvak. Serana had promised to help free his horse, in exchange to learn where to look for her mother. It had been the only glimmer of hope in such a desolate place. The other souls seemed mindless and only repeated themselves as if they had lost their way. Now they stood side by side, staring at another shade in wonder. Serana stole another glance at Azriel only to watch the remaining color drain from her face. She looked back at the soul that stared blankly into the sky.
"I cannot see from the sky. My wings have been clipped." Its voice wasn't as deep as the other dragons, but it still spoke their ancient tongue.
She wasn't sure why she was surprised, but she was. It surprised her more when Azriel jumped when it spoke. She was shaking harder and Serana place a reassuring hand on her arm.
"Tell me, ancient one, who sent you here?" Serana kept her hand on Azriel's trembling arm as she spoke to him.
The dragonling looked down at them, as if noticing them for the first time. "A necromancer, vampire. I trusted her… called her friend." The dragonling looked back up at the sky. "I cannot fly. What is this place?"
Serana listened as Azriel's heart beat faster. Thunder clapped loudly and Azriel tensed. Her emotions were pure chaos as Serana struggled to separate her own emotions from the Dragonborn's.
"It's called the Soul Cairn, elder." Serana kept her tone even to cover her own emotions and the ones she felt from Azriel.
The dragonling didn't respond for several seconds. Serana could hear Azriel breathing increase. Her anxiety was getting the best of both of them.
"She spoke of it. She called it a place of unlimited potential." He looked back down at them. "I remember…" His voice faded as he shifted his vision to the ground.
Serana took a calming breath. "What do you remember?"
The dragonling fixed her with his gaze. "Her spell. Her name. Yet other things are lost in fog. Time is lost, as I am."
Azriel started to hyperventilate.
Serana took Azriel's hand in hers, but Azriel jerked it away.
"She sent me here…" The dragonling continued. "…to pay the toll. She was deceived and consumed. I was trapped for all time." He looked back to the sky. "I long to stretch my wings."
Azriel stumbled as she backed away. Serana tried to stop her from falling, but Azriel crash through the brush, pushing Serana's hands away. Picking herself up, Azriel bolted the way they came.
Serana unleashed a volley of ice spikes into the skeleton as it rose from the ground in front of Azriel. Serana matched Azriel's pace, knowing she'd eventually stop running in her condition. The fortress wall loomed in front of them as they ran. Serana could see the stairs that Azriel was running towards along the path. They had wandered all over before they had met the soul that had given them direction. Now it seemed Azriel had made it her goal to leave. The pair raced past a pit of lavender light and Azriel rounded the corner. She leapt over a rock and off a ledge onto a bone pile. Serana watched as Azriel's foot caught on a rib bone sticking out of the ground. The sickening snap of bone filled her ears and Azriel skid across the ground face-first.
Serana dropped down next her and Azriel pushed her away. "You did this on purpose! You tricked me! You brought us here to trade for your mother!"
Serana caught her hands and pulled her trembling body close. "I swear to you, Azriel. I didn't deceive you nor will I leave you here like that little dragon. I would not trade you for her! You are far too important to me."
"You paid the toll with my soul. There are bones everywhere, Serana. They had to get here somehow…" Azriel mumbled, her struggle against the vampire lessening.
Serana held on to her, letting her calm more. "I know." She looked at Azriel's right foot twisted off at an odd angle. "I promise, I will not let you stay here. You have to trust me. Please, Azriel, trust me." Serana watched Azriel struggle internally. She could see her weighing the words and feel the dread she felt.
Finally, Azriel yielded to her embrace, still shaking hard. The two sat together for several minutes before Azriel spoke again, this time her voice was barely a whisper. "This place, it terrifies me."
Serana stroked her wet hair. "Me too, I couldn't do this without you. This place… it's all wrong. I just want to find my mother and get the fuck out of here."
Azriel shifted and yelped. "My leg is broken."
That part was already obvious to Serana, but she nodded anyway. Azriel sat up carefully and the golden glow of her magic surrounded them. Serana waited patiently as Azriel healed herself. When she finished, Azriel collapsed against her, asleep.
They followed the path under the tower towards the large fortress with light flowing into the sky. Serana realized that it was the place the soul had spoken of. The place that was forbidden with the pink glow. He had called it the Bone Yard.
Serana was lost in thought when Azriel placed her hand on Serana's. "What are you thinking about?"
Serana sighed. "Nothing… everything. It's… complicated."
Azriel limped along beside her. "What are you going to say to her?"
Serana stopped walking. "I don't know." She turned and faced Azriel. She let her eyes wander the young dragon's face. Azriel was deathly pale, the Soul Cairn was weighing heavily on her. The constant fights, her exhaustion, the withdrawal from the drugs in her veins. It was obvious Azriel was barely standing. Yet she was still pushing on, wordlessly withholding and guarding herself from Serana. Serana hated not feeling her emotions.
It's all too much… She silently chastised herself for being selfish once more. She reached out and brushed the hair from Azriel's scarred left cheek. "I've been trying to think of what to say. When she put me in that rock she promised it wouldn't be for long. That she would figure out a way to stop my father. Then I read her journal. After everything, she lied. She didn't have a plan. My mother isn't a coward, but after everything, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt…" Serana paused. "Fuck hurt… pissed off! She lied to me! She planned to leave me there forever. Then you came along."
Azriel, for the first time, cracked a small smile. "I'm good at fucking shit up."
Serana laughed and it felt good. Even in the dismal hell-hole they were in, Azriel could still make her laugh. "Yes, you are."
Azriel shrugged. "Dragon of the North and shit fucker-upper at your service, Princess." Azriel bowed slightly.
Serana rolled her eyes with an amused smile. "Whatever, Empress. Let's just find my mother and get out of this shit hole."
Azriel's small smile grew a little more.
"Mother?!" Serana ran to the top of the stairs and placed her hands against the glowing barrier. "Mother!"
"Maker… It can't be, Serana?" The older vampire walked out of the shadows and to the barrier.
For a second, Serana felt guilty for leaving Azriel behind, knowing she couldn't keep up. "Is it really you? I can't believe it." She felt elated for finding her mother. "How do we get inside, we need to talk."
But, Valerica didn't appear as happy to see her as Serana felt at seeing her mother for the first time in thousands of years. "Serana… What are you doing here? Where is your father?" Valerica's tone conveyed her anger and disbelief.
Serana sighed, exasperated. "He doesn't know we're here and I don't have time to explain."
"I must have failed." Valerica looked away from Serana, instantly hurting Serana's feelings. "Harkon must have found a way to decipher the prophecy, hasn't he?" Her eyes locked with Serana's. The rage and fear in them made her shiver in spite of herself. Truth be told, her mother was far more frightening than her father.
Serana could hear Azriel as she slowly walked up the steps. She already knew her mother was displeased and expected answers. "No, Mother, you got this all wrong." Serana watched Valerica's eyebrows creep upward. "We're here to stop him… to make everything right." Serana watched Azriel crest the top of the stairs and her mother turned towards the Dragonborn.
"Wait a moment. You've brought a stranger into this? Have you lost your mind, Serana?!"
Serana cringed at the anger in her mother's voice. She found herself wishing Azriel would have waited at the bottom of the stairs. "No, you don't…"
"You." Valerica cut her off venomously, pointing at Azriel. "Come here. I would speak with you."
Serana watched Azriel's eyes. Her face was emotionless, but her eyes burned with hate. The pit of Serana's stomach churned and she suddenly realized her mistake in bringing the two women together. Azriel's temper coupled with Valerica's coldness… she silently thanked whoever was responsible for the barrier.
Azriel's nostrils flared as she stepped forward to where Valerica pointed at the stone in front of her. Serana watched awkwardly as her mother appraised Azriel with distaste. Serana felt herself switching between the two glaring women. She knew her mother was looking at Azriel's haggard appearance. She followed Valerica's line of vision as it sank from the lightweight, black leather vest and cream colored tunic to the torn black leather breeches. She watched as Valerica's eyes landed on the red sash tied around Azriel's waist and Valerica looked directly at the Dragon Priest dagger she had tucked into the front. The tall boots that came up to Azriel's knees were also lightweight leather, worn and dirty as a peasant's. Serana knew that Valerica already hated everything about Azriel.
"How has it come to pass that an Akaviri plunderer is in the company of my daughter?"
Azriel scoffed loudly. "Firstly, bitch, I'm Nibenean. Second, I may be a lot of things, but pirate isn't one of them. I do have some honor in me."
"How dare you, mortal!" Her voice was dangerously low and Valerica took a step closer.
"Mother, please… you don't…"
Valerica held up her hand to silence Serana and Serana complied.
"It pains me to think this mortal travels under this guise… Of what? Being your protector?" Valerica stared coldly through Serana. "And that you are foolish enough to trust this Akaviri, Serana? Have you learned nothing?"
Serana could feel Azriel's boiling rage as Valerica practically spit the last words from her mouth. Before she could speak, Azriel was between Serana and Valerica. She slammed her palms on the barrier and Serana caught the startled expression on Valerica's face, even if it lasted only a second. "If this barrier didn't exist, you would be dead, vampire."
Serana took a deep breath, but it didn't calm her nerves as Valerica's lips thinned and curled into a cruel smile.
"Is that so, little dog?" Valerica hissed at Azriel.
Azriel's canines extended. "Better a dog than a whore to a Daedric Prince." Valerica's jaw dropped with the insult and Serana couldn't stop the gasp that escaped from her.
"Your daughter has braved everything to find you and you treat her like this?" Her voice carried her rage. "How dare you. How dare you treat Serana as though she is beneath you. How dare you for imprisoning her. You left her to be discovered by the very man you betrayed her with. So fuck you. Personally, I think she should leave you here… forever… if need be."
Serana looked away. The chill that ran down her spine wasn't from the coldness of Azriel voice. It was the words repeated from her mother's journal. Azriel stepped away from the barrier, allowing Serana an unobstructed view of her furious mother.
"You know nothing about our plight. Do you think I'd have the audacity to lock Serana away in that tomb for the protection of an Elder Scroll alone?"
Azriel scowled at her. "I think you're foolish enough to think he wouldn't have wasted time looking for her. Because when I found her, she was very close to being discovered. Did you ever think of what he would have done to her? I doubt highly you thought of anything other than protecting yourself. Why else would you inter her in a rock while you yourself escaped to a plane of Oblivion?"
Serana rubbed her temples as Valerica chuckled darkly. "The Scrolls are merely a means to an end. The key to the Tyranny of the Sun is Serana herself." Valerica glared at Azriel. "I assume my daughter would have told you this by now." Valerica paused only for the doubt to register with Azriel. "No? Then I guess my daughter hasn't lost her head entirely. I can only stretch my imagination to believe you hold some shallow charm over her."
Serana looked to her feet, feeling Azriel's stare.
"My… charm?" Azriel asked disbelievingly. "Gods, you really are a bitch, you know that?"
Serana looked up into Azriel's angry eyes. "You are different from them?" Serana could hear doubt tainting Azriel's voice.
Valerica turned her back on Azriel and started to pace. She looked directly at Serana with a satisfied cruel smile on her face. "She is different from us. But, I digress. Since my daughter couldn't be bothered to tell you the entire story, I shall." Serana watched her mother turn towards Azriel. "When I left Castle Volkihar, I left with two Scrolls. One Serana had, the other I kept."
Azriel interrupted her. "We found someone to read the Scroll. It held information on a bow…"
"Yes, an arcane weapon, Auriel's Bow." Valerica paused for a moment. "The second speaks of the Blood of a Daughter of Coldharbour blinding the eye of the Dragon."
Azriel took a step forward. "Which dragon?" She asked confused.
"The Sun, Azriel." Serana answered quietly.
"But, the Sun isn't a Dragon." Azriel replied.
"It was to the Snow Elves and worshipers of Auriel." Valerica countered abruptly.
Serana watched Valerica's victorious smile as Azriel put the pieces together. "Serana, like myself, is a Daughter of Coldharbour. She was chosen by the Daedric Prince Molag Bal himself." Serana could hear the pride in her mother's voice as the wolf howled in her mind.
"And you just handed her over like a trophy to get what you wanted." Azriel snarled at Valerica. "Must fill you with pride…"
"Like myself, Serana was once human. We were devout worshippers of Lord Molag Bal." Valerica continued as though Azriel hadn't spoken. "Tradition dictated that female worshipers be offered on his summoning day. Few survive the ordeal. Those that do, become pure-blooded vampires."
"Your husband hunts your daughter for this prophecy…"
Valerica interrupted her again. "You're beginning to see why I wanted to protect Serana…"
"Stop fucking interrupting me, you cold-hearted bitch!" Azriel snapped at her. "Or I swear to Sithis, I will tear your head off."
Serana groaned. "Both of you stop this! This isn't getting us anywhere."
Azriel and Valerica stared at Serana for a second.
"Fine. Go back to the part about how Serana is important to this…" Azriel could barely keep her rage contained as she seethed at Valerica.
"In Harkon's eyes, Serana would be dying for the good of all vampires." The frosty disdain colored Valerica's very words.
"So, let me get this right. Instead of standing up to him, you hid Serana under his nose and ran away to the Soul Cairn?"
Valerica glared at Azriel with hate burning in her eyes. "And how exactly do you propose to stop him?"
"I, unlike you, have every intention to kill him." Azriel growled back at her.
Valerica laughed emotionlessly. "Then you are a bigger fool than I suspected."
Serana ran her hand down her face. This is working out so well…
"Don't you think I weighed that option before I enacted my plans?" Valerica's voice dripped acidly.
"Did you bother to ask Serana's opinion in all of this, oh wise one?" Azriel shot back at her.
"You care nothing for Serana or our plight…" Valerica started, but Azriel rushed forward to the barrier once more.
"Don't you dare tell me that I don't care for her!" Azriel roared back at her.
Valerica moved as closely to Azriel as the barrier would allow. "Run home, Pyromancer. This place… my daughter… our dilemma… none of this is for you."
Serana lifted Azriel from her feet, setting her down slightly behind her.
"Serana, what the fuck?" Azriel growled, kicking her feet.
Serana stepped close to the barrier to face her mother. "Don't you ever talk to her like that again! Azriel has done more for me in the brief time I've known her than you have in millennia!"
Valerica bared her fangs at her daughter. "How dare you, Serana. I gave up everything I cared about to protect you from that fanatic you call a father!"
Serana took a couple of breaths to calm her own emotions which had mingled with Azriel's externalized rage. "Yes, he's a fanatic… yes, he's changed. But, he is still my father. Why can't you understand how that makes me feel?"
Valerica placed her hand on the barrier. "Oh Serana, why can't you open your eyes? The moment he discovers your role in the Prophecy, that he needs your blood, you'll be in terrible danger."
"She already is…" Azriel whispered with hate.
Serana and Valerica looked at Azriel.
But, Serana wasn't finished. "So you decided to shut me away from everything and everyone I cared about?"
Valerica looked back at Serana and her hand fell away from the barrier.
"You never asked me if hiding away in that tomb was the best course of action…" Serana was on a roll and wasn't about to stop. "…you just expected me to follow you blindly like I did with everything else. Both of you were obsessed with your own damn paths. Your motivations might have been different, mother. But, in the end, I'm still just a pawn to both of you. I wanted us to be a family again. But, I don't know if we can ever have that. Maybe we don't deserve that kind of happiness. Maybe it's not for us." Serana looked at Azriel and smiled. She looked back at her mother. "I started a different kind of family. One that isn't cruel or malicious. She doesn't hold who and what I am against me. She doesn't use me for her own purposes like you did."
Azriel stepped forward clapping and both Valerica and Serana looked at her. "It's about fucking time you stood up for yourself." Azriel dropped her hands and looked at Valerica. "Drop the barrier and give Serana the Scroll. You can spend eternity here for all I care."
Valerica looked from Azriel to Serana. Serana took Valerica's silence as a chance to finish her thoughts. "We have to stop him, Mother. Before he takes this any farther. Azriel is right, we need your Elder Scroll."
For a second Valerica only looked at Serana. It was obvious she was weighing the words in her mind before she spoke.
"I'm sorry, Serana. I…" Valerica closed her eyes and continued. "I didn't know… I didn't see… I allowed my hatred for your father to estrange us for too long."
Serana shook her head. "You have no idea how long it's been, do you?"
Valerica held up her hand and Serana waited. "Serana, forgive me."
"Mother…"
"If you want the Elder Scroll… it's yours, Serana." Valerica finished simply.
"And how in the name of Akatosh is she supposed to take it?" Azriel asked pointing at the barrier.
Valerica faced Azriel fully. "Your intentions are still unclear to me."
Azriel rolled her eyes with disgust.
Valerica glared at her. "For Serana's sake, I'll assist her in any way I can."
"Great idea! Drop the fucking barrier and give her the Scroll." Serana could see the mocking tone of Azriel voice visibly aggravate Valerica.
Valerica grit her teeth as she scowled at Azriel.
"Mother, do you have the Scroll?" Serana interjected.
"Yes, I've kept it safely secure since I was imprisoned." Valerica answered never taking her moonlit eyes off Azriel.
Azriel laughed at her coldly. "Imprisoned? Bite off more than you could chew?"
Serana watched Valerica's jaw clamp shut. She could only imagine that her mother was wishing it was around Azriel's throat. Serana surveyed the barrier again, but Valerica drew her attention.
"Fortunately Serana, you are in a position to breach the barrier that surrounds these ruins."
Serana glanced at Azriel and looked to her mother. "What do we need to do?"
"You need to locate the tallest rocky spires that surround these ruins. At their bases, the energy from this barrier is being drawn from the unfortunate souls exiled here…"
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Azriel grumbled.
Valerica continued to ignore Azriel as she spoke to Serana. "Destroy the Keepers that are tending to them and it should bring the barrier down."
"Should?" Azriel asked loudly.
Valerica growled at Azriel's outburst. "One more word of warning. There is a dragon that calls itself Durnehviir that roams the Cairn. Be wary of him."
Azriel exhaled harshly and this time Valerica couldn't pretend to not notice her. "Of fucking course there is. Because in the middle of fucking nowhere, there's always another gods damned dragon!" She turned on her heel and walked down the stairs without another word to either Serana or Valerica.
"Serana…" Serana turned back to her mother. "…The Ideal Masters have charged him with overseeing the Keepers. He will undoubtedly intervene if you are perceived to be a threat. Destroying the Keepers will not be an easy task. If you are successful, Durnehviir will most certainly come."
Serana turned wordlessly to follow down the steps after Azriel.
"Keep safe, my daughter."
Serana only paused, remaining silent. Serana looked down past the steps to part of another ruin standing as silently as a sentinel. Posted on the sad peak was the Dragonborn. Serana could feel her emotions, it struck her odd that Azriel felt so much sadness. Her steps were silent as she quickly strode to where Azriel sat. Serana stood before her for a long while before she spoke.
"Azriel." She stood at her feet, looking up at the Dragonborn.
"How can a mother act like that to her child?" Azriel looked down at Serana.
Serana shook her head slowly and began to pace around in a circle. "She wasn't always like this. She changed when my father did… Look Azriel, let's just go and get this over with."
Azriel sighed and jumped down. "I know she's undead and everything, but are you sure I can't kill her just a little?"
Serana rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the tower the distance.
Serana slid down the black wall, plopping down next to Azriel. "Are you alright?"
Azriel rolled her head along the wall to look at Serana. "I think I was alright before that Keeper bounced me off the wall the twentieth time."
Serana chuckled. "Yeah, it looked like at about the nineteenth time it started to hurt a little."
Azriel coughed, trying not to laugh. "I think it would have hurt more had he have managed to cut me in half."
Serana covered Azriel's hand with hers. "I'm not in favor of having only half a Dragon."
Azriel coughed harder as she laughed. "It would ruin a lot of plans."
Serana leaned over, catching Azriel's face gently. "My only plans are to stop my father and have a long life with you and Aela."
Azriel smirked evilly as she leaned toward Serana. "Serana, I don't have any plans to die anytime soon."
"Better not, little dragon." Serana's lips grazed Azriel's softly. "I would be… upset."
Serana could feel Azriel's passion, her own was entwined with it. Yet, she knew they needed to carry on. Serana stood swiftly, pulling Azriel to her feet.
"Tease." Azriel whispered to her.
Serana smirked at her. "Always."
Azriel quickly leaned into her, but Serana caught her and held her at bay. "Not yet, eager little Dragon, we have one more to deal with."
Azriel groaned. "Fine, but after that I want my prize."
Serana smirked and pulled Azriel arm over her shoulder. "You'll get it…"
"I'd better." Azriel grumbled adding a false pout for good measure.
Serana couldn't help but laugh.
It was slow going. Serana listened to Azriel panting as they walked. The Soul Cairn's expanse coupled with the dry air was drawing the moisture out of Azriel. The exertion from the walk alone was enough to make her sweat. The fact they couldn't go ten feet without something attacking them was now grating both their nerves. She looked up at the basaltic building that they walked around. The buildings were even getting on Serana's last nerve. The only purpose they seemed to serve was to piss her off. Now she watched as Azriel wandered around a small pit of purple light. They had seen others as well, but this one was different. The wind had picked up, carrying more sand with it. Lightning was drawn to almost every building they walked near and this one wasn't an exception. The area around them was lit up as another bolt struck.
"Azriel, what is that?"
Azriel looked up at her and shook her head. Then she stepped into it.
"Azriel, WAIT!" Serana watched as she was engulfed in what she could only describe as shadows, then disappear.
Serana ran to the pit.
"Serana, up here!" Azriel shouted from above her.
Serana looked up to where her voice had come from, shocked. At the top of the building, Azriel was waving to her. "Step on it!"
Serana stepped onto the portal just as an ice storm hit Azriel from behind. The immediate sensation Serana got from the portal was like being ripped apart. When she materialized on the balcony of the building, she felt woozy. Stumbling against the wall, she could only watch as Azriel plunged her dagger into the mist-man's skull.
Azriel stumbled over to Serana. "You alright?"
Serana shook her head. "I'm not sure, I feel off."
Azriel nodded and Serana could tell she was thinking about something.
"How long have we been here?" Azriel finally asked.
The question caught Serana by surprise. She honestly wasn't sure. "I have no idea. Why?"
Azriel pulled her water skin from her bag. "I brought enough water for three days."
Serana shrugged. "So?"
"I'm almost out."
Serana stared at the skin.
"If we don't get out of here soon, I'm going to end up looking like that guy." Azriel turned and pointed at the skeleton at the other side of the balcony lying next to an old fire pit. "Time passes differently in Oblivion. Akatosh doesn't rule these planes. I lost track of time when we stepped foot through that portal. It's could be years or hours since we left."
Serana wrapped her arms around Azriel. "I promise you, I won't let you end up like him."
Azriel shook her head. "You don't understand, It's been days in our time since you fed. You need too. This place is affecting you too." Serana was about to protest, but Azriel cut her off. "I'm the only living thing in here, so I am your only option. Let search this guy and get you fed. After that, we kill that last keeper, we get your mother and get back to Nirn." Azriel crack a grin. "Maybe we'll luck out and the last Keeper will be a midget that we can bounce off a wall."
Serana nodded, but her humor was gone. She didn't like the idea of feeding, especially not right now. Everything in here was a lot of effort, the idea of feeding from Azriel was a terrible one. But, the nagging burn had return a while ago and it was getting harder to ignore. She watched as Azriel searched the bones and old bag in silence. She looked out at the towers and noted the haze was thickening. She looked back over to the massive fortress where her mother was. The glow around the building had lessened, but was still visible. She glanced at Azriel, who was reading an old book. Serana sighed quietly, she did need to feed. The Soul Cairn was far more taxing than she could have imagined.
"Serana, read this!" Azriel flipped the old book at her and Serana caught it.
She quickly thumbed through the pages, as Azriel sniffed a health potion she had found. She thumbed through the pages past the parts about reestablishing the Dragon Cults and passed the Necromancer's notes on new spells. She was actually impressed with some of his ideas for reanimations and several experiments on summoning spirits into bone.
~4E 101 year - 20th of First Seed~
I did it! I have found numerous items that will help me reestablish the cults in Skyrim. Soon I'll have what I need when I find the old dragon named Durnehviir in the Soul Cairn. Everything I've deciphered from those Necromancers' pages say he now lives in the Soul Cairn. If I can figure out how to speak with the Ideal Masters, I'll have everything I need!
~4E 101 year - 5th of Rain's Hand~
All goes well. I've established a portal to commune with the Ideal Masters. I must prepare for my journey. Once I've learned all there is to know of Necromancy, I will rule with an army of Dragon's at my side. All of Nirn will tremble before me!
~4E 101 year - 23th of Rain's Hand~
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
I'm injured… and they… THEY deceived me! I've lost so much blood. I feel so weak, yet they still send their warriors to test me. I don't think I can take much more! I don't think I can escape…
"Well looks like he learned the hard way that the Ideal Masters fuck whoever tries to cut a deal." Serana closed the book and handed it to Azriel. She watched Azriel slip it into her bag.
"No doubt." Azriel looked off into the distance. "Let's keep going, I feel better after drinking that health potion. It's a good thing those don't go bad." Azriel twirled the other bottle in her hand and smiled at Serana. "It's time you had a drink."
Serana helped Azriel up off the ground. "Talk to me, what's wrong?"
"In… pain… feel… it." Her voice had gotten raspier with time.
"Feel…" Her voice trailed off and she looked from Azriel to the building. She could feel it too.
"They're waiting for me to die." Azriel said with little more coherence to her words.
Serana's guilt reared its ugly head fully. She knew it was the truth. So long as Azriel remained alive, her soul was trapped in the gem. And they were close to the gem containing it. They just needed to find it.
"It's close. If we hurry we can locate it and take it back." She carefully pulled Azriel to her feet. For a second she took the Dragonborn in. Azriel wasn't doing as well as she had said she was. Her sweaty skin was clammy and she was already beginning to show the first stages of dehydration thanks to her exertion.
"Drink some more…"
Azriel only shook her head no. "Can't. I need to keep rationing what I have left."
Serana grumbled to herself knowing Azriel was right. Things had been taking far too long and it was obvious her cramps were from dehydration. "Come on, I'll help you."
She took Azriel and wrapped her arm around her shoulders to support her. Mounting the steps, they made their way inside. The old stone walls of the maze yielding turn after turn. Each turn was greeted with skeletal warriors bent on stopping their push. Under the never changing sky, the two carried on. Serana only wished that Azriel's footsteps weren't so laden as another ice spike decapitated a black warrior.
The soul gem called to them both. Its pull was the only thing keeping them from taking wrong turns within the maze. Serana hefted most of Azriel's weight as she dragged Azriel along. Each step Serana took towards the gem, Azriel seemed as if she was getting weaker. Her head slumped against Serana's shoulder. For a few more steps it rested there until another cry of the dead made her look up. The skeletons began to rise at the end of the corridor and Azriel took a deep breath.
"YOL TOOR SHUL!"
Flames incinerated the four warriors before they freed themselves from the confines of the earth. Serana chanced a glance at her and Azriel looked back at her after coughing lightly.
"You're having all the fun."
Serana gave her a sideways smirk, noticing that the shout had made her a hoarse. Then she looked to where the skeletons had disintegrated. "It's another portal."
Azriel steady herself against Serana then chanced a step in its direction. "We need to see if it takes us to my soul and it's only big enough for one of us at a time."
Serana already knew what she was about to do. "Oh no you…"
Azriel stepped onto the portal and disappeared. Serana growled as she jumped on to the portal, wondering why Azriel had to be so stubborn. As the shadow gave way, the intense purple-gold glow surrounding Azriel nearly blinded Serana. For that fraction of a second, it was like watching a dragon's soul being torn from its body. Then panic set in as she staggered towards Azriel. The enormous gem floating above the alter was actively feeding from Azriel. Azriel had collapsed on the stairs face-down. Serana struggled to move quickly, still feeling off-kilter from the portal. Grabbing Azriel by her ankles, she dragged her away from the shrine and away from the gem. Finally, she placed enough distance between them on the very edge of the roof top, reaching the limit of the gem.
Azriel was out cold.
Serana rummaged in her ruck sack, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand up as another massive electrical bolt crashed into the alter. With a heated whisper she demanded a healing potion of the bag. Her finger tips brushing it, she plunged her hand deeper grabbing the bottle and pulling it from the depths. Carefully she tilted Azriel's head back, letting the tonic run slowly into her throat. Azriel sputtered as Serana let the tiny bottle's contents drain.
"Drink it!" She couldn't keep the worry from her words.
Azriel complied with her command until the bottle was emptied. Serana massaged her throat and chest, cradling her carefully on her lap until the healing potion had started to take full effect.
Azriel's eyes cracked open and Serana leaned down into her face. "Don't you ever worry me like that again."
Azriel tried to shift, but Serana held her still. "Promise me…"
Azriel scoffed lightly. "If I didn't worry you, you'd still be worried because I wasn't worrying you."
Serana shook her head and sat up helping Azriel to sit as well.
"It's in that shrine." Azriel said quietly.
Serana nodded. "I know… stay here." She stood and walked briskly towards the alter. The large floating gem had no effect on her whatsoever. Shoving the lid open, the luminescent red soul gem sat on a stack of objects piled to the top underneath of it.
"Throw me your bag!"
Azriel threw the ruck sack to Serana without a word and Serana emptied the shrine of its stored goods. She didn't bother to return the lid to its proper place, only taking a second to throw the floating gem a nasty look. "Fuck you." She grumbled at it then she walked back to Azriel.
Opening her hand, she extended the gem to Azriel. For what seemed like an eternity, Azriel only stared at it. She reached out slowly, her hand hovering over Serana's. Then she bent Serana's fingers around the red gem once more. Serana gave her a questioning look.
"I trust you completely."
Serana leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
Serana had let Azriel rest against a headstone, her fatigue was obvious. The lingering souls that stood in worship at the mausoleum completely disregarded her as she crept closer. The ancient priests continued their chant as she sneaked up to them. The mist surrounding the structure thickened blindingly. Its luminescent purple-blue light made it difficult to see as she picked her way through the surrounding tombs. Serana closed her eyes, the light was painful. Lightning struck the ground at her feet, she felt the electrical current dancing across her skin with the telling sizzle that it had hit more than the ground. From behind, she heard Azriel shout something, but couldn't make out the words she was saying. She opened her eyes when the light had dissipated, almost instantly after the strike. Azriel was running straight for her.
An ice spike tore through her shoulder and Serana let out an involuntary scream. The lightning that struck in retaliation came from behind Serana as she spun deafly, facing her attacker. Azriel's chained bolts hit the mistman that had impaled her and the others. The wave of ice from another mistman slapped Serana in her face fully. She tripped as she backed away over a gravestone. The chatter from the boneman that charged was her only warning when she looked up. His Nordic sword was high over his head, aimed directly for her neck. Suddenly flames surrounded her, carrying electricity with it through the inferno. Bones exploded sharply around her. She closed her eyes again as the discharge made the flames too intense to see through.
"I've got you…" Azriel's hoarse voice filled her ringing ears and Serana felt herself being lifted up, then dropped in the middle of one of the brightly shinning purple pits. The relief from the throbbing in her arm and back was instant.
When Serana opened her eyes Azriel was lying next to her outside of the small pit wearing a smile. "Those pits heal even ornery vampires."
Serana shifted and pushed herself up to looked down at her. "I wonder if they'd cure that infernal lip of yours."
Azriel laughed and coughed at the same time. "You like my lips."
The retort died before it ever reached Serana's mouth. Azriel was bright red as if she had been burned by the sun.
"Fuck." Azriel closed her eyes and rolled onto her back. "You noticed."
Serana looked away. "Yeah, I noticed that you're getting worse. I've noticed the cramps you've been having are getting worse. I also noticed you constantly lick your lips and that you're hoarse. You're dehydrated. How much water do you have left?"
Azriel pulled the water skin out of her ruck sack. It was less than half full. "I've been trying really hard to save it. We've been fighting and walking so much…" Azriel coughed.
Serana stood and looked around. She didn't see any immediate threats so she looked back down at Azriel. "Give me your bag. I want to see what those mistmen were guarding."
Azriel sat up and pulled off her ruck sack, but hesitated. "Serana, my armor is too heavy for me." Her eyes landed on the tear in her leather. "It's not too heavy for you." She reached in the bag and pulled it out. "Wear it," and handed it to her.
Serana shrugged off the torn leather and incinerated her shirt. She hefted the dragon scale armor into place and buckled it on. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
Azriel nodded and laid back down.
Serana took one last look at her then made her way through the mist to the mausoleum. In the center of the structure, on a pedestal, was the skull of horse.
"All that… for a horse?" Serana lifted it up and looked at it. "This horse had better be worth it."
"Oh, he is!"
Serana turned sharply to face the soul that was speaking to her.
The man reached out and touched the skull, looking up at her with a smile. "Thank you. I have no idea how much time has passed in Tamriel. There was a time he was not just the fastest, but the bravest horse in Cyrodiil. My father bought him from a wizard when I was a boy. We've been together ever since. One day we were attack by… I can only describe them as monsters. I told him to run." The soul shook his head with disbelief. "He's been running ever since."
He looked at the skull and smiled. "He's a good horse. He never deserved this. Take him with you back to Tamriel." He pushed the skull towards the bag. "You can call him… he always comes."
Serana cocked her head. "Call him? How?"
The soul stared at her. "It's been so long…"
"Well that does me a lot of good."
He looked up at her. "Wait. Wait! I remember…" He let out a melodic whistle. "Just like that! You try."
Serana let out a small laugh and whistled.
The sound of running hooves approached, but Serana didn't see the horse. Next to her purple flames erupted from the ground as Arvak sprang from the soil. He reared once, and landed on all fours next to her.
"Such a good boy!" The soul turned to look at Serana once more. "Thank you for everything. Take care of him." The soul faded and Serana looked at the horse. She stepped closer and held out her hand to him. He sniffed it, then nuzzled her.
Serana groaned quietly to herself as she stroked its skull. "A Princess and her pony… I'll never hear the end of this one."
Shrieks carried on the wind in front of her and an arrow whizzed by.
"Not a fucking minute's rest!" She growled as she jumped on the horse and drew her sword, charging toward the Wrathman and his entourage.
"I thought you said you got a pony, Princess?"
Serana rolled her eyes. "I did."
"Then why are we still walking?" Azriel's voice sounded as if her throat was killing her.
"Because he took as few arrows to the flank and a war hammer to his head for me." Serana shifted Azriel's weight over her shoulders. Azriel's latest muscle spasms were getting worse. She didn't want to waste any more time getting to the last keeper. She was still mulling over the last book they had found when Azriel stopped walking abruptly, staring up at the colossal floating tower.
"If I ever meet my father I'm going to plant my foot in his ass for not giving me wings."
The statement was so out of the blue, Serana couldn't help but laugh. "I'd pay good coin to see you do it, if I didn't think you'd be smote for such an insult."
Azriel simply shrugged. "Whatever. Not like I haven't fought a god before."
Serana stared at her. Time had slipped so far away from them, that the hours they had spent in the tower within Azriel's dreams seemed like forever ago. She was lost in thought when Azriel spoke again.
"Do you think it's weird that my soul is red in that gem?"
Serana cleared her throat. It had struck her as odd. "Mortal souls are black hence the need for these larger gems. I'd think it makes sense your soul be different from a mortal's. But, to be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting it to look like blood. Nor was I expecting it to completely fill the gem so soon."
Azriel chuckled, then stopped abruptly. Serana looked at her and saw her apprehension once more.
Serana groaned as she spotted another portal between four pillars under the floating tower. Surrounding it had to be at least thirty souls. She shifted Azriel's weight and pressed her jacket, feeling the iciness of her soul against her chest. She tipped her head in the direction of the deep purple pool. "It's another little one and I'm going first this time."
Azriel snorted back a laugh. "By all means, your Royal Highness."
Serana rolled her eyes and let Azriel ease her way out of her grip. Looking around, she was satisfied that they were safe enough to part ways for a few seconds. The pair walked towards the small hill with the pillars and souls lingering aimlessly around the pit. Only one had cognizance to look up at them. "Don't! Don't go up there. He's rounded us up to take us up there to be fed on! Please… just run!"
Serana looked over her shoulder at Azriel worried. "Maybe you should stay here."
"Like hell I will!" Azriel wiped her wet hair from her face. "None of them have been easy and I'm not letting you go by yourself. It's not safe to go alone."
Serana couldn't help but smile at her. Azriel could barely walk, yet her selflessness shone through her own exhaustion. "Fine. But, this time I'll lead."
Azriel gestured to the portal. "By all means, I like watching your hips sway anyways."
Serana shook her head with a light laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."
The two walked to the portal and were stopped by the same soul once more. "Please, you must listen to me! You're still alive and if you want to stay that way, you must leave this place the way you came!"
Azriel simply looked at the soul. "Thanks for the warning, but we're not leaving without what we came here for. And we need to go up there to get it."
The soul looked at her sadly. "Only death waits for you there, young one." He stepped back away from Azriel.
Serana watched Azriel walk back to the portal, then Serana stepped on. She heard the shrieks of the Wrathmen coming from behind Azriel, her last vision was the fire that encircled her.
She was cursing the moment she materialized on the large balcony of the tower. She'd left Azriel too quickly. She looked around then ran to the edge. From the heights, she couldn't hear anything. The howling wind and thunder covered every sound. The ancient dead forest below and the pits of light added to the haunted look of the old crumbling structures. But, it did nothing to help her see how Azriel fared in her fight. She looked around desperately for another way down, quickly realizing one didn't exist. The height was too great for her to jump and there was nothing to climb down on. Serana let out another long string of curses before running to the staircase in the far corner of the tower.
Serana let out a frustrated yell as she ran up. The only way to go was up and up took her farther away from Azriel. She ran along the ledge to the staircase leading towards the pinnacle of the tower. Souls crowded the case, either unwilling to move for her or unable. Serana pushed them aside, cursing about their tangible state. She shoveled her way past them to the next level. Fighting her way by the lingering dead, she rounded the corner. More souls stood on the stairs, but she was determined. Serana shouldered her way past, each time stopping only briefly to glance over the edge to the ground far below. The climb was frustratingly slow. So many souls crowding the small ledges and stairs that Serana struggled to keep her balance when she skirted the edge. She worked her way closer to the very top. As she rounded the next corner on the staircase, she found the Keeper herding souls towards the highest level of the tower.
Flames dance to life in her hands and the Keeper drew his sword.
Serana let the firestorm erupt towards him, she concentrated the heat solely on him. At first, he staggered back up the stairs. Serana let the flames pour from her, focusing her rage and frustration into the inferno and it burned hotly. The Keeper's massive sword jutted outward from the flames, barely missing Serana. It impaled three souls and disappeared back into the blaze. Serana took a couple of steps backward just as the Keeper's blade once again emerged from the flames over her head.
Serana kept the heat fixed on him as she backed carefully down the stairs. The Keeper's sword swung out from the flames in several rapid successions, each swing drawing closer to Serana. She quickly glanced over her shoulder. The way behind her was still crowded with souls. Her feet touched the landing and Serana let the flames go, diving between the ghosts blocking her way. She rolled, springing to her feet. From behind, she heard the cries of the souls as the Keeper charged after her, shoving the dead over the edge.
Serana pushed the stragglers out of her way, not bothering to touch the steps as she leapt over them, down to the next landing. Hearing the shifting dragonbone armor and the shouts from the souls damned to feed the Ideal Masters, Serana shoved her way through as roughly as she could. As desperately as she fought to get by, it seemed that only more ghosts crowded into her. She chanced a look over her shoulder, only to see the Keeper's sword swinging towards her head. Serana threw herself between the damned, cursing loudly about the size of his sword. She slammed through the throng, rolling. When she hit the top of the steps, she pushed off them with her hands, launching herself over the horde of ghosts once more. From the stairs below, she could hear the souls shouting. From behind she could hear the Keeper catching up to her. Whatever was coming up from the bottom couldn't be as lethal as the Keeper and the impending fall she could take.
Serana made a last second decision. The balcony she had materialized on had been empty. Fighting the Keeper there would be easier to back him off the ledge. She hoped.
She shoved the dead from her path, a few tumbling over the edge. The gnashing plates indicated not just how close the Keeper was, but also how fast the giant was moving.
The whiff of air that passed her neck told her that his sword was even closer.
Serana jumped high into the air and over the stairs, spinning around. She launched a barrage of ice spikes directly for his head. From below her, she heard the shout of the Dragonborn.
"ZUN HAAL VIIK!"
Serana's feet hit the landing and she rolled off the impact. Springing back upright, she charged back up the now cleared stairs. The Keeper's sword was gone, but to say he was unarmed would be a deadly mistake.
Azriel swung her Nordic blade at the Keeper to counter his strike. In that split second, Serana noticed two very important things. Azriel's right shoulder was bleeding profusely and her short sword was made of the same steel as Aela's dagger. It bore the symbol of the wolf.
Azriel's sword collided with the Keeper's wrist, severing his hand. Serana launched volley after volley of icy shards directly into his face to blind him. His heel caught the edge of the ledge he was standing on and he made the mistake to look behind him.
"FUS!" The wave of energy hit the Keeper squarely, throwing him off the ledge.
Azriel threw Serana a glance with a smile and limped close to the edge. She peered over the side. "That's for fucking with her!" She croaked into the air.
Azriel turned to face Serana and her face suddenly changed. Her smile fell and her hand fled to her face. The dizziness from dehydration hit Azriel like a weight and Serana saw it a second too late. She took a step backwards to catch herself, but Azriel had stepped too far and toppled over the edge.
Serana ran to the ledge, one second too late. Azriel was already out of reach.
Knowing there was nothing to stop Azriel's fall, Serana ran for the top. She wasn't thinking. She leapt up the cleared stairs, running as fast as she could. She reached the pinnacle, where another portal was waiting. Without hesitation she leapt onto it. Appearing at the base of the tower, Serana gather her bearings. She ran to the North side and peered through the thick ground fog into the sky. Serana started to panic. She scoured the heights, but saw nothing.
"What are you looking for?" The voice floated to her ears and Serana turned to look at the specter. Serana gasped, choking on her own words. Azriel's ghost stood before her.
"No." The word barely escaped her lips. She took a step away from Azriel and Azriel stepped closer.
"Serana, it's me…" Her voice sounded as though it came from a great distance.
"This can't be happening." Serana looked her up and down, her panic evident in her voice. The brightness of Azriel's spirit was incredible.
"Serana, it's me!" Azriel reached for her and Serana tried to grab her hand, but her fingers passed through Azriel coldness.
Serana stared for a moment at her own fingers like they had betrayed her. The next moment she was on her knees in front of Azriel. She couldn't contain the sorrow that filled her being. Azriel had died because of her. Tears fell from her eyes as she stared at Azriel's ghostly feet.
"You're dead." The ache that words brought made the tears fall faster.
"My love, don't weep." Azriel knelt down, brushing her ghostly fingers over Serana's cheek. "I'm not dead."
Serana made to speak, but Azriel's fingers covered her lips. "I am part of the Void. Ethereal yes, but I'm not dead." Azriel ran her ghostly fingers over her tears. "I hate that I can't wipe your tears away." She pulled her hand from Serana's cheek. "Hez buld su'um." Her color became more vibrant. Her form solidified and Azriel took a shaky breath. Her hand caught her shoulder, the pulsating glow of the healing spell drawing Serana out of her disbelief. The instant Azriel finished healing her arm, Serana crushed her with a hug.
"Mother?" Serana hauled Azriel up the last step, looking around. "Mother where are you?"
Azriel snarled, but said nothing.
Serana let Azriel lean against the stone column. She ran into the alcove where her mother had been when they first arrived. "Mother?" Her voice broke with her call. Valerica's things were still in place and the potions she had been attending were still brewing. Her notes half complete, sat open. Serana hurried back to Azriel. "She's gone." Serana said with distrust.
Azriel pointed towards the door. "Maybe she went inside when the barrier fell?"
Serana mentally chastised herself for thinking the worse. "I hope your right."
"If I'm not, she's going to have more than your father chasing her." Azriel mumbled under her breath.
Serana pretended not to hear. She walked ahead and pushed on the old door. She was pleasantly surprised how easily it opened. She looked back at Azriel and received a reassuring smile.
"We've come this far, Serana. She wouldn't dare leave you now."
Serana nodded, the shadow of the doubt still lingered as Azriel took her hand. She turned and walked through the door with Azriel in tow.
The mist that clung to the ground was thick and ominous. Serana watched Azriel scrutinize the walls and ground as they entered. She didn't blame her for being apprehensive. Serana felt the same way herself. Azriel was still hiding her feelings from her, so Serana watched her body language instead. Her tension was apparent as they slowly walked. Too many things had risen in front of them or had attacked from behind to not wonder what was coming next.
Together they had fought the Keepers, countless minions, and a very unruly executioner one of the damned had called the Reaper. Serana shivered thinking about how close the specter had come to killing them both with his axe. Serana heard Azriel taking a small drink of water and looked at the nearly empty skin. After she had held herself on the floating tower, Serana had to take the water away from her. Azriel's thirst had become too powerful of a temptation to drain the contents. Serana watched as she licked her broken lips. They had to leave soon. She was determined to find her mother and get out as quickly as they could for Azriel's sake.
Passing the walls, they entered what Serana could only think of as a massive graveyard. Dead trees surrounded the perimeter, or at least as much as she could see through the fog. Tombstones were everywhere, some were even in rings. But, more significant were the bones of every creature she could think of. Dragons, mortals, animals, it seemed the Ideal Masters had sucked anything into the Soul Cairn. Serana looked up the walls which were lit with the now familiar purple light to the towers. Oddly like the other spires they had seen that dotted the landscape, these too were broken. Spiraling endlessly in place in pieces and orbiting just above the original structure. The two women walked carefully up the five steps to the center of the stone platform. The hair on the back of Serana's neck was standing upright with the static charge that filled the air. The menacing feeling the place held over her was overpowering. She wanted to turn around and leave when Azriel brushed past her, walking towards the center of the stone platform.
"Serana?" Her mother's voice carried over the mist the question.
"Mother, where are you?"
"Over here, daughter."
Serana turned in the direction her voice came from and walked towards it. She made a mental note that she was moving to the right of the doors they had walked in. The mist lifted in the direction her mother had spoken from, which reassured her slightly. The haze began to evaporate rapidly. Lighting struck the wall of the fortress. Serana stepped lightly over rubble and bricked stone, walking towards a dual set of stairs. She sighed in relief as she could finally see.
"Forgive my surprise, daughter." Valerica said, smiling slightly from the shadows. "You've grown more confident in your abilities."
"I had help." Serana answered keeping her tone even.
Valerica shrugged as she stepped forward. "The dog undoubtedly played her part. But, you did astonishingly well."
Serana growled at her threateningly. "Azriel nearly died defending me several times in the last hour alone. So if you don't mind, get the Scroll so we can go."
Valerica inclined her head slightly and stepped out of the shadows. "I already have. The moment the barrier fell, I knew you were triumphant. I retrieved the Scroll and awaited your arrival."
Pure fury poured through Serana, but it wasn't her own. The dam of Azriel's emotions had broken and Serana felt them flooding through her. Serana wheeled around, scouring the haze for Azriel. She took a step, then two in the direction she had come from.
"Serana? What is it?" Serana could feel Valerica's penetrating gaze on her back.
"Mother, there's no time… We need to go!"
Running footsteps broke the fog, but the reverberation that shook the bone yard had come from the sky.
"Serana!" Azriel's voice tore through the last of the fog. "Serana, run!"
A roar answered Azriel, only this time, closer.
Valerica grabbed her daughter from behind. "Durnehviir is coming! Prepare yourself."
Azriel broke through the haze running directly at them. "Serana, you have the Scroll, just run!"
The lightning that had constantly crashed against the walls suddenly stopped when Azriel skid to a halt in front of them. "Damn it, why won't you listen to me?"
Serana could feel Azriel's fury, but also her uneasiness.
The breeze became still.
Serana took a breath to calm her nerves. "I'm not leaving you here to fight him." The moment the words left her mouth, she could feel the look her mother was giving her. The air around them became heavier and the haze dissipated, leaving only fragments clinging to the tombstones. "Do you feel that?" Serana asked quietly.
Azriel nodded. "He's close…"
Serana felt Azriel brush her fingers, before turning and walking back toward the center of the cemetery, looking at the sky. Serana followed closely, feeling the static in the air dispel. The sudden stillness made Serana's skin crawl with the seconds as they ticked by.