Chapter 7: Laid to Rest

"Yazir! Wake, Yazir!"

The Redguard's eyes shot open, and the first thing he saw as he reached for the dagger under his leg was Serana's breasts in his face, as she leaned over to shake him awake. Yazir flinched with embarrassment and averted his gaze. "Stendarr's light Serana! I told you not to wake me until dark!" He sat up and reached for his robes at the end of the bed, and in doing so, could have sworn he saw Serana staring at his bare torso while he did. She's probably repulsed by all the scars, he thought. Years of fighting dark creatures had left their mark on him.

"It is dark Yazir," Serana was looking at his face again and her voice filled with excitement once more. "The sun went down an hour ago, and you need to hear this." Yazir pulled on his robes while Serana told him how she had gone to explore the town while he slept. When night fell, she visited the burned house only to find the ghost of the girl who used to live there who claimed that a friend bit her until she was so cold she didn't even feel the heat of the fire when it started. "I think her 'friend' might have been a vampire, Yazir. Just come take a look please? I promise I'll drop it if you're not convinced."

Yazir strapped on his sword and crossbow. "Fine, let's go take a look for your ghost."

*

"Will you play with me? Come find me!" The ghost of the child Helgi, disappeared in the ruins of Hroggar's family home right before Yazir's eyes. Yazir turned to look at Serana who had a slightly smug look on her face. The ghost of Helgi had agreed to share more details of her death with Yazir and Serana if they found her in a game of hide and seek. "Fine," he said. "You might have been right. Let's find this ghost, and see what else she has to say."

The two searched all around the area around the house, but Ghost-Helgi was nowhere to be seen. Yazir closed his eyes, and waited for Stendarr to guide him. He didn't have to wait long for the answer. "Up the hill," he pointed. Serana followed closely behind him as they made their way up the hill overlooking the ruined house. To their surprise, a woman stood there looking at an unburied coffin in a grave. "Who are you?" He asked. The woman turned her gaze towards him. Her eyes glowed a deep blue. "Oh shit," Yazir raised his crossbow, but he was too close to the vampire. She swatted the crossbow aside, and his shot went wide.

Yazir fell into the grave stunned. The vampire drew a dagger, and raised it above her head to throw it at the fallen Redguard. A blast of electricity illuminated the hilltop, and struck the vampire full in the torso. Serana's voice rang clear through the night. "You will not touch him!" She and the mysterious other vampire threw spell after spell at the other, while Yazir loaded another bolt into the crossbow. "Hey!" he yelled. The vampire flinched at the sound of his voice, and turned towards the sound, allowing Serana's next spell to strike her in the back. The mysterious vampire threw her arms in the air from the blast, and Yazir fired. His bolt struck the creature just below the breast. It died with one final shriek, and then the hill was silent once more.

As Yazir climbed out of the grave, Ghost-Helgi materialized next to the coffin. "You found me!" She exclaimed. "Laelette was trying to find me too, but I'm glad you found me first." The girl told him about how the night of the fire, Laelette had been told to kill her and her mother, but in a moment of weakness decided to turn the girl instead hoping it would save her. Before Ghost-Helgi could say anything else, she disappeared as a torch appeared in the darkness nearby. Someone was making their way up to the hill where Yazir and Serana stood. "Laelette!" The man wailed. "Oh my gods, she–she was a vampire?" Yazir calmed the man, and introduced himself as a Vigilant of Stendarr. The man–Thonnir–went on to tell him that Laelette, was in fact his wife whom he believed had abandoned him to join the Stormcloak Rebellion.

When Yazir asked him why he thought that, Thonnir told him how she had always sympathized with Ulfric's Stormcloaks, but a week before she disappeared. She had been spending a lot of time with another woman in town–Alva, whom she had previously despised. The night Laelette disappeared, she was supposed to see Alva again, but according to the latter, she never showed up. Thonnir then excused himself, leaving Yazir and Serana alone on the hill once more. "Sounds like we should investigate this–Alva." Serana said.

"I agree," Yazir said quietly. "I'm beginning to think you may not be the only vampire in town."

*

"This is a very serious accusation, I hope you have proof."

"I have the accused's journal here, Jarl Idgrod. See for yourself. She follows a master vampire named Movarth, who plans on turning this whole town into a blood farm for his followers." Yazir handed the journal to the jarl who skimmed its contents.

"This is indeed disturbing news. I shall send some guards to apprehend Alva, but I'm afraid I require your services once more, traveler. There is a group of townspeople ready to charge into Movarth's Lair at this very moment, but I have no doubt their chances of success would be greater if they had a Vigilant of Stendarr with them. Do this, and I shall reward you greatly."

Yazir inclined his head. "None escape the Vigil, Jarl Idgrod. Together, we shall drag them all into the light. I shall meet this group outside Movarth's Lair and see this town free of this threat." With that, the Redguard strode towards the door, and out into the night.

*

"They can't be much further now," Yazir said quietly while sweeping his crossbow from side to side. Its bolts had made short work of the frost spiders they had encountered. Only Serana had entered the cave with the Vigilant. The townsfolk had been left outside the cave to ensure no vampires escaped. "Try to use your magic at range. I may have to use my Aura if they get too close, and I wouldn't want you to get caught in the blast." Serana smiled charmingly at the Vigilant. "My, my Yazir," she said. "Have you grown to enjoy my company?"

The Redguard rolled his eyes. "You may have saved my life, back at Helgi's grave. I'm simply trying to return the favor." Serana said nothing as the two advanced further into the vampire lair. "There," he pointed. "I see a total of five, but that doesn't mean there aren't more. You remember the strategy we discussed?" Serana nodded. "Good."

Yazir aimed his crossbow at the vampire sitting at the head of a large table that he was sure was Movarth. He inhaled a deep breath and then exhaled, firing the bolt as he did so. It struck the vampire in the center of his chest. Vampires began rushing his position, but Serana launched tendrils of electricity at them while Yazir reloaded his crossbow. He sighted and fired. Another vampire fell never to rise again.

Three more were closing in on him now and Serana was preoccupied with dueling with another vampire mage. "Stay back Serana!" Yazir yelled as he activated his Aura spell. A golden glow surrounded him, and the vampire nearest to him screamed as it caught fire from the spell. He drew his rune axe and took its head off. He cast a ward with his left hand just in time, for another vampire sent an ice spike flying his way. It was bloody work, but between him and Serana it didn't take long for the coven to fall. "Well what do you know?" Yazir said appreciatively. Serana frowned, "What?" The Redguard hid a small smile. "Who would have thought a vampire would make a good vampire slayer?" Serana rolled her eyes.

Ghost-Helgi appeared before them, "My mom says I have to go now. She says I need to rest. Thank you for playing with me!"

Yazir stared at the spot where the child had vanished. "May you walk forever in the light child." He said. Serana said nothing for a few moments, but before they left the cave she said, "I understand why you do what you do now. It must feel good to have saved a whole town."

The Vigilant stopped to look at his companion. "You tell me," he said. "You saved them as much as I." Serana smiled, "It does feel good."