Ellia grumbled as she made her way to one of the more shady bars in Riften, "Ellia, I have a rather lucrative business proposition. Come to the Hells Gate, alone, you'll find me at a table in the corner at the right, I'm wearing a brimmed leather hat. You cannot miss me."

She sighed as she read the letter again, it had no name at the end, and she wished she could just ignore it. But her gut told her she couldn't.

Entering the bar she saw the man, sitting right where he said he would.

"Alright I'm here, now then let's hear it. What are you selling?" She said as she sat down in front of him. He rummaged through his pockets and eventually pulled out a vial and said "my finest brew, go on. Have a smell, maybe even a taste" a wickedly warm smile danced on the edges of his lips. Ellia got more nervous, this wasn't going how she liked it to. And she definitely didn't like that she couldn't see the man's face fully, letting out a sigh she carefully grabbed the vial and opened it, a sweet odor hit her immediately. Skooma.

Bolting back she looked at the man, or rather mer, as it was a male high elf. "Potent stuff, isn't it? Tell me, Ellia... does it bring back memories? It should, we had such a good time together. And I was so heartbroken when I learned that my favorite toy had escaped.."

Images of fangs flashed across her minds eye, panic rose up from her chest when Ellia realized she couldn't move. Feeling the strength in her arms waning she quickly tapped three times on the table, knowing that this bar too was filled with guild members.

One of them hastily stood up and went to the guild, that way Brynjolf would at least know what happened.

"We are going to have so much fun together, like the good old days.. my dear" the vampire said as her vision darkened. "I'm sorry Bryn.. it seems my past caught up to me.." Ellia thought before the darkness took her completely.

Fifteen minutes later, at the cistern.

"BRYNJOLF! ELLIA HAS BEEN TAKEN!" The words hit him like slamming into a brick wall, leaning on Ellia's desk he said "wha- how? WHAT HAPPENED!?" The volume of his voice alerted the rest of the guild, Delvin, Vex, Dagger and even Karliah came up to the desk. After the thief explained Brynjolf was silently weeping, *"how could this happen? I thought Redwater Den was annihilated, wiped out of existence.."* he was taken out of his thoughts by Karliah. "Brynjolf, what's Ellia's relation with Redwater Den?"

Of course it was her that asked the heavy questions, he sighed "Ellia was the victim of skooma abusing vampires, they'd sedate her with the stuff before drinking her blood. Probably even worse, but she can't remember that, one good thing about being drugged into another plane I suppose.." the grim faces around him told him enough, he cleared his throat and said firmly "alright, I'm gonna need everyone to help find Ellia. No more jobs until our guild leader is back, I want every contact, every asset we have to be on the lookout. Is that understood!? In the meantime me and Karliah will scout out the bar and surroundings"

Before they could leave, Logan, Ellia and Brynjolfs adopted son, came into the cistern. "I know where mom is being held" Brynjolf kneeled in front of the boy and said "are you sure lad?" Logan nodded, "it's in the old fort, follow me dad" he said as he turned to leave. "Alright lad, Karliah, Dagger.. go scout out the surroundings. Just in case the basterd has already left, if you can't find anything join us at the old fort"

The old fort came into view, scanning the surroundings Brynjolf said "Logan, go back to the Cistern. You've done enough, and I don't want you in harms way" Logan nodded and wished Brynjolf good luck before turning back.

Karliah and Dagger came quickly, as the vampire left little to no trace.

"Let's get inside, slit the throats of anyone that we come across" Brynjolf said as he cloaked himself in shadows, Karliah did the same. And soon the three thieves were inside the old fort, "do you smell that? It reeks of blood here.." Dagger said softly, Brynjolf merely nodded and pressed on. "Brynjolf.. I found something" Dagger said as he opened the door to the basement.

The smell hit them hard, once they got down in the chamber they saw blood and gore smeared on the walls and ceiling. A girl lay lifeless in the middle of the chamber, her only cover a small white piece of cloth. Brynjolf took the scene in, stunned silence overtook the three thieves. A silence Dagger eventually broke by saying "I need to hurl" he ran out the room, Karliah close behind him to help him if need be. Leaving Brynjolf alone in the horrifying chamber, sinking to his knees he sobbed. "To think she's in the hands of the monster that's capable of this! I- I.. I don't want to imagine what he's doing to her.. gods.. Nocturnal, please help me!" Karliah and Dagger returned to a weeping Brynjolf, lifting him to his feet Karliah said "come on Brynjolf.. she's not here, let's go back to the Cistern"

It was awfully silent in the cistern, everyone was out looking for Ellia. "Why was I so stupid to let her go alone? This is all my fault..." Brynjolf said to himself as he buried his face in Ellia's pillow, her scent was unique. It was of a deep forest after rain, of the autumn leaves swaying in the wind. "Don't say that Brynjolf, this wasn't your fault, this was simply her past catching up with her" Karliah said as she stepped into the room, Brynjolf nodded. "I know that.. I just can't help but think that I could've made a difference if I was with her"

Karliah sat down next to him and said "I know, but trust me, we will find her. After all, we do have the biggest network of information available to us.. I doubt this will take long. So rest up, please, we need you with a clear head boss" Brynjolf nodded and said quietly "alright Karliah, please keep on looking. Give me reports when I wake up" Karliah nodded, and left him alone to hopefully sleep.

The next morning.

Brynjolf awoke from a dreamless sleep, feeling as tired as he did last evening he made his way into the cistern and got handed a cup of coffee. Reading the reports he started to see a pattern, all trails leading to one place. A small cave near Solitude. "Boss, here's someone that might be able to help." Delvin said before a tall nord walked past him. He walked silently, like a predator. Brynjolf thought as the man stood in front of the desk, "you're the Thieves Guild's second in command? If so, I have information on your lover and Boss. What Delvin just said is correct, she's being held in a cave near Solitude, but she won't be if you'll allow me to save her" the nord said with a tone of nobility.

Brynjolf thought about it then said "who are you, if I may ask." The nord nodded, his deep voice sounded warm as he said "my name is Richard an croich. I rule over the vampires of skyrim, though sadly not every vampire has eh.. reasonability. We learned of your lovers fate when we sent out scouts of our own, I am willing to help" Brynjolf looked up in surprise.

"Why would you help me? Why would you murder your own kind?"

Richard looked pleased with the question, "because vampires like Leandal are not good for our kind. They draw too much attention, vampires like that are the reason the vigilants and Dawnguard are able to get the notoriety they get. And while I may be a vampire, I'm not heartless. If someone captured my wife I'd do anything to get her back. So what will it be?"

Brynjolf nodded and said "get her back to me, please.. I- I don't know how much longer I can stand to be apart from my lovable Bosmeri thief.."

Richard bowed and said "I will bring her back, don't you worry. But I will leave you with this bit of knowledge, Ellia is heavily sedated.. you might have to help her lose the addiction."

Brynjolf nodded in acknowledgement and watched Richard leave.

A couple of weeks later, in a cave near Solitude.

"Leandal, for your transgressions against me, your king. I sentence you to death" Richard said as he tore the weak vampire apart. "Now then, Serana, can you do me a favor and check the other rooms?" Serana nodded and silently entered the first room.

Cages, blood and brewing stands. Alongside a table with a half naked wood elf on it, Serana felt the urge to vomit, but quickly suppressed it and released Ellia from her bonds. Ellia looked up at Serana with emotionless eyes, as if all the life had left her body. Serana wept tears of blood as she saw how Ellia tilted her head sideways. "No sweetie, you're safe now. No more feeding, no more skooma. No more pain, now hush and sleep. Save your strength." Serana said as she cradled Ellia in her arms.

Richard entered the room and said "Gods! She's so young, I.. I wish she didn't have to go through this.." Serana nodded silently, picking Ellia up she said "from what I hear Redwater skoom is rather potent, we might want to take a ration with us so she can slowly build up the tolerance of not having any"

Richard agreed and said "that is sadly what I am doing, gathering this vile substance. Poor girl, I can't imagine what she must've been through" Serana swiped a sweat dripping bang of hair out of Ellia's face as she said "she was taken by a vampire.. I got a pretty good idea of what she went through, let's get her out of here." Richard nodded again and said "I set up a teleport spell in the Guilds hideout, stand close to me Serana. I'll get us there quick"

The cistern buzzed with activity as Richard and Serana teleported in, Serana laid Ellia down in her bed and went to Brynjolf.

"Here, keep this ration of skooma hidden from her. You'll have to slowly lower the dosage over time so she can be free of the addiction, I'm sorry.. but this will be hard, you will probably not recognize her at first" she said as she gave Brynjolf the bag of skooma. Brynjolf thanked her and entered their bedroom.

The room was dark, exactly how he had left it. The only difference was Ellia sleeping on her back, he watched her chest softly rise and fall with each breath she took. Sitting down next to her he gently grabbed her hand and said softly "stay strong my love, I'm with you" Ellia opened her eyes, her usual bright amber yellow and blue eyes were now dim and lifeless. She tilted her neck, expecting Brynjolf to drink from her. He choked up, "no my love, you won't have to do that anymore" Ellia looked at him confused, "h- how else am I s- supposed to get my skooma..?" She said with a voice so small he barely heard her. Brynjolf cried softly as he said "I'll give it to you my love, I'll help you through it all.."

Ellia still looked confused, she didn't recognize Brynjolf. "I don't understand m- master.. if you don't want my blood.. do you want my body then?" She said with that small voice devoid of lifelust, throwing off the blankets as she turned to him. Brynjolf just shook his head and said "no Ellia, just rest... I don't need anything from you, I'll be back soon. Goodnight, my love" Brynjolf pulled the blankets back over her before walking out of the room and sitting down at Ellia's desk, seeing a bottle of mead he grabbed at it. Only to throw it away. "No, I cannot get myself drunk, not when Ellia needs me sober." He said out loud to himself.

"I agree Bryn, Ellia needs you. Not some drunken fool" Karliah said as she stepped up to the desk, "how is she?" Karliah continued, her eyes had a hopeful glint in their amethyst haze. Brynjolf shook his head, almost as if defeated he said "she's so far gone, she didn't even recognize me.. she called me master! I- I don't know what to do Karliah, how am I supposed to bring her back?!"

Karliah laid a hand on his shoulder and said warmly "by being patient, and caring. And most of all, to give her your love. She needs it the most now, and you definitely won't have to do it alone. Me and Dagger will help you, as will the rest of the guild of course, you are not alone in this" Brynjolf took a look at a vial of Redwater skooma, thumbing the label absent minded he said "thank you, I'll go see what this stuff does to my lovable tease of a Bosmer.."

He entered his bedroom again, the bottle of Redwater skooma in hand. Ellia was watching his approach with weary eyes, he saw the hurt and mistrust in them. It dimmed her eyes tremendously, almost as if a vast ocean of darkness was over them. He swallowed his fear and said "Ellia... here, your daily skooma ration.." her eyes lit up, and for a moment he thought she recognized him. However it was fleeting, as she turned all of her attention to the drug that had destroyed her.

Laying down next to her he pulled her close and said "I know you don't recognize me, but I'll try anyway.. Ellia if you can hear me, if you're in there. Please get well soon, it tears me apart to see you like this. To see your strong spirit utterly broken, come back to me love, come back to your Brynjolf.. I beg you lass.." Ellia in her high nuzzled into Brynjolf, she coughed a little before settling down.

The following morning.

Ellia woke up, her mind less clouded than the night before. Hunger, thirst, she felt the accursed craving for skooma and groaned as she bent over, holding her stomach. Brynjolf woke up and said "lass? What's wrong!?" Ellia shook her head and said with a rough voice "skooma.. please.. master, it h- hurts"

Brynjolf cursed as he quickly ran out the room to grab a vial, before returning to her he said "Dagger, I need you to visit the greybeards, I need to know everything about the dragonborn. Hurry lad" Dagger nodded and ran off.

"Here you go lass" Brynjolf said as he handed her the vial, Ellia downed it immediately. Feeling better she turned to him and thought "I should know him... but my mind is so fuzzy.."

Noticing the light returning to her eyes Brynjolf smiled and said "is there something you want to ask of me, lass?" But as soon as he said that the darkness returned to her eyes, the skooma had taken affect again. He patted her head and said "even though it was fleeting, I saw a bit of the real you in your eyes. I know you're in there my love, stay strong. I will be here, as long as it takes..."