Chapter 21: The Keepers

Mimzi and Serana looked along the spire ruins. All walls layered in dust and bones. They stepped in care, trying not to make any noise to wake the Soul Cairn's dead. They came up to an opening courtyard revealing the swallowing sky. To the end of the courtyard was a throne, with a giant, bone-layered creature slouched over it.

Mimzi stopped before a stonewall with Serana, and the two peaked at the monstrous humanoid. It was in a slumber, not sleeping but void of life. Serana muttered, "That's a Keeper…"

Mimzi came from the wall a pinch, making Serana worry, "What are you doing?"

"Element of surprise." Mimzi whispered and raised a fire bolt spell. She charged the surge in her hands and prepared to throw.

Suddenly, there was rattling from the mounds of bones behind them that jolted Serana. She glared at the reanimated corpses beginning to rise from the ground. They wore thick ancient armour equipped in ebony axes biting like midnight. Serana gasped, "Mimzi…"

Mimzi stayed her focus to charging the flame spell at the Keeper, until Serana gripped her arm, "Mimzi!"

She charged her fire bolt clumsily, throwing it towards the Keeper, not greeting a hit but surely waking it. The fire collided into the stonework and withered away. The creature reawakened from its slumber, and cracked up from the large throne. The creature was as tall as a giant, holding a sword of ancient bone. It wore a cowl over its head, with a hollow shadow as a face, apart from ominous glowing orbs as eyes.

Mimzi whipped her head back to berate Serana for the faulty hit. She wasn't able to conjure a sour word to the sight of the undead reanimating around them. Mimzi stood from cover with Serana channeling in each hand a drain life and ice spike spell. Mimzi swiped her sword through two pursuing undead, and Serana used her drain spell on the creatures still rising, weakening from reanimation. The grinding from bones grew louder as more came to life, surrounding Mimzi and Serana. Mimzi kicked them back, thrusting her sword through clavicles. An axe swiped overhead, and Mimzi delivered a hard sweep against the skeleton's helm— knocking it back. It staggered and swiped its axe again, slashing Mimzi's lower arm. She kicked against their knee cap, combusting the bone and toppling the being. The pain from the cut was gone when she saw the Keeper charging at full speed. Adrenaline bonded quickly. Serana shrilled, "Mimzi! It's coming!"

Serana shot ice spikes at the creature, which only flecked off the bonemeal of its armour. Mimzi grabbed Serana by the waist and pulled her in to herself.

"WULD!"

A sudden moment of pressure and winded lungs, sending the two from the skeleton grip and Keeper's charge. Mimzi had her feet firm to stone ground. Serana fell to her knees at the momentum, falling before the throne. The creatures befuddled for the two vampires, but Mimzi now had the element of surprise once more. She parted her lips and delivered another tumultuous Shout.

"YOL… TOOR… SHUL!"

A gust of flame waved into the Keeper and its' minions. Dry brittle bones ignited, causing the stragglers to flee as they burnt to crisps. However, the Keeper's bonemeal armour extinguished flame easily. Its large frame began to pick up pace and charge again, every stomp a quake. It flurried with its sword overhead to strike down like a chopping block. Mimzi bellowed, "Find cover!"

She pushed Serana out of way first, before diving from the oncoming blow. The Keeper's giant sword crashed into the stonework below, tilling it into rubble. The ground shook, hindering Mimzi and Serana to gain footing. The Keeper heavily swiped the sword again passed Serana, who planted flat dodging the strike. Mimzi whirled fire bolts at the creature again, trying to distract it from Serana. The fire bolts collided into the Keeper's head, throwing it against its backside. The giant sword fell from its clasp and landed into a mound of ash. Mimzi's eyesight went red. The creature's vulnerability fed rage. Hunger. She could feel the sharp tip of her incisors grow into her bottom lip. She gripped her sword hilt and leapt onto the Keeper's chest. It tried to fight her off, but Mimzi's newborn senses granting the instinct to know its moves ahead of time. Abilities unfolding like the speed of light. She dodged the creature's throwing fists and booted over their sternum. She roared and stabbed her sword into its hollowed face. It made a horrifying screech made from the sounds of a distorted animal cry. Mimzi ripped her sword back. She jumped off the Keeper and watched as it slowly curdled into black, pulsing plasma— leaving behind a bubbling tar puddle. Mimzi breathed hoarsely, and despite the creature now dead, the intensity in her veins still flourished. Untamed anger, birthing an ocean of power. So tempting to fall into for purely the satisfaction.

Serana stood from the rubble and gawked up to Mimzi. There was something far different now. A growing change from just her stance. Mimzi kept her red eyes down to the remains, "One down… two to go…"

"Mimzi…" Serana mumbled, "Your eyes. Your eyes are glowing. You have… fangs…"

Mimzi flicked her gaze to Serana in a startle. She gently lifted her dirty fingers to her mouth and felt along her teeth. She went cold like ice at the razor tipped incisors in her mouth. They hadn't been so prominent till now.

Mimzi muttered shallowly, "What does this mean?"

Serana nervously walked closer to her, "You're getting stronger. The longer you go without feeding, the stronger you'll get… until…"

"Until what?"

"Until you need blood so terribly you'll do just about anything to get it."

Mimzi shrunk in despair at the telling, and her red eyes wilted. Like she was on her death bed, or becoming something that needed an end. Her time to gain the scroll was fleeting, "Then we need to be faster…"

Mimzi didn't wait for a response from Serana, she stomped from the ruins and back out to the vast emptiness of desert. Mimzi's fear built in her chest, making the sparse air even harder to breathe. She trudged on regardless, with Serana struggling to keep up. As they came up to the second spire, wisps circled them harmoniously. Following them through glowing craters and geysers in the sandy dirt. Mimzi and Serana stayed alert to the wisps, but did not combat them. The wisps followed the two to a floating tower over thirty feet into the air. Just at the top tier, they could see the corners of another throne, and what appeared as the bonemeal armour of another Keeper. Serana stopped Mimzi, "Up there."

"How are we going to get up there?" Mimzi asked. The wisps then began to circle and float along a well of black, bubbling pus. The two walked over to the well, not knowing its contents or purpose. One of the wisps gently floated into the bubbling pus and was devoured by the liquid. They glanced to each other without words but sharing the same kind of confusion.

"What was that?" Mimzi's squawked.

Serana investigated the floating tower, which repeatedly was struck by lightning. The glimmer of a white orb came from the highest contents of the tower, the same floor as the Keeper. It floated down like a feather, revealing as the wisp. The wisp hovered over the well again, but did not go in. It stayed there for sometime before Mimzi and Serana came to realize.

Serana mustered herself to speak, "It's… a portal. It'll get us up there."

Mimzi winced painfully at the words, "You want to go in that thing, don't you?"

"What other choice do we have?"

"You just keep talking me into bad decisions."

Mimzi slowly stepped over the well. The wisp floated away but still eagerly watching her entry. She held her breath and in an instant, she stepped into the black pus. The liquid was warm and unsettling. It enveloped her leg, then pulled her into the well. Mimzi screams shallowed as she was pulled in, leaving Serana in horror.

"Mimzi!"

Serana shook before the well, battling with the idea the wisps had tricked them. Panic began to fester. Hollering echoed in the skies. The voice called again, then once more, fully gaining Serana's attention to the top tier of the tower. She looked up and gasped in relief at Mimzi far above, jumping with her hands waving to and fro.

"I'm okay!"

Mimzi was as loud as she could be, but the gravity of the tower made it sound like a faint whisper. Serana yelled up, "I'm coming up!"

Before Serana could step her feet into the well, a lightning strike collided into the well, throwing Serana back. The skin on her cheeks burned, and hair frizzled at the impact. The smell of static hit her like a punch. It punched the air from her lungs when she hit the soil of the Soul Cairn. Serana shot up and ran back to the portal, but it was now a blackened crater.

No… no, no, no," she looked up to the tower and cried, "Mimzi!"

Without the well, there was no way to go up, and no way to go down. Serana was left thoughtless on how to save Mimzi trapped on the tower. On the top tier, Mimzi could hear loud thudding shaking the ground. She fought it once, enough to know its greeting. The tier was made of a narrow pathway, and the only way down was over the edge or through the well, which was no longer an option. She would either fall to her death or face the Keeper head on.

The Keeper came sprawling from the corner. It held a large bone moulded bow. The arrow was the size of a spear and made of sharpened bone. Mimzi bolted towards the Keeper, then glided in between the creature's legs. It shot the arrow narrowly missing Mimzi's shoulder. She planted behind and swiped her blade against the back of the knees, making the Keeper stumble forward. It swiped back, walloping Mimzi and sending her sliding. She breached the edge and clasped onto stonework. Her feet dangled over the steep pit of the Soul Cairn. Serana watched on as Mimzi pried off the cliff. She could see the Keeper stomping closer to Mimzi. Serana shot ice spikes from her palms at the creature. The distance was great, and the ice spikes fell into the air before reaching the Keeper.

Suddenly, spikes of ice and lightning went sprawling at Serana, who quickly lifted a ward spell to block the attacks. She shuddered at floating skeletons circling in purple mist. Bearing white, lifeless eyes. Serana's ward began to fail at the masses of arcane. She ran for cover not able to deliver spells in defence, leaving Mimzi to the mercy of the Keeper alone.

Mimzi tried to pull herself back up the tower, but the Keeper came stomping and shaking stone, making the grip unsteady. Mimzi roared and pulled her legs up to the side, stressing up the edge. She quickly rolled to the right out of the Keeper's boot. The lightning struck again nearly hitting her. She dived from the blast, but the Keeper stubbornly pursued. It gripped her neck and pulled her up from ground. The Keeper's grip was so tight Mimzi's airway was completely cut off leaving no room to gasp. Her eyes felt as if they were bulging from her sockets. She nearly let go of her blade, then ripped it through its elbow and severed the arm. Mimzi gasped hoarsely and thudded back to ground. She hacked and coughed, where the Keeper scuttled back against the stone.

Down on the ground, Serana ran into a cratered grove from the skeletons— the mist men. They continued spearing ice spikes and lightning towards Serana. A lonesome ghost wandered in the centre of the grove, reciting to himself in hushed tones. He took notice of panting and panicked Serana and groaned, "I am trying to concentrate here. Take your grave state of peril somewhere else, would you?"

Serana ignored the Dunmer ghost and found cover behind upright stones. She could see the mist men hovering closer. She gawked up to the tower where violent thrashing of the Keeper could be faintly seen from where she was, but no sign of Mimzi. The ghost continued to aloofly belittle, "Hiding won't do you any good. Go out and face them, already. I am trying to create my opus…"

Serana hissed, "Can you shut up?!" She flung ice spikes towards the mist men, hitting a couple in the chest, sending their being into clouds of purple mist and bone.

"Excuse me?" The ghost ranted, "I am Saint Jiub, slayer of the Cliff Racers, Hero of Morrowind. You do not simply 'shut up' a saint, little girl."

"I don't care! Watch out!"

An ice spike flew through Saint Jiub's incorporeal chest. Serana casted a ward spell and blocked the spike.

Saint Jiub glowered, "Oh, now you've done it. I'll never be able to complete my opus with all this ruckus."

Serana shot streaks of lightning at the lingering mist men. They rained down ice spikes in return, with Saint Jiub standing in the line of fire in annoyance.

Mimzi kicked away from the Keeper. The creature stomped its feet growing mightier as she evaded the crushing blasts from the monster's boots. She crawled up a wall- a dead end.

"FUS… RO… DAH!"

The thundering Shout blasted the Keeper back. It nearly fell from the edge before using its remaining arm to grab onto stone. Mimzi ran to the creature with her sword raised and a battle cry. A battle cry she was sure to be her last. The Keeper pulled itself up to the tower again, where Mimzi leapt and thrusted her sword into its chest plate. The Keeper tipped back, free falling to the Soul Cairn soil. All Mimzi could do was pierce her sword deeper, holding onto her hilt and huddle over its body as it took her with it.

Serana was quickly surrounded by mistmen, and Saint Jiub observed her judging. Her cover was no longer an option. She began to flee from the multiple ghost-like skeletons till a loud, thundering crash rattled the ground. Serana fell to her knees at the quake. Dust pillowed into the air. She looked back to the remains of the Keeper. It had landed over the remaining mistmen. Over the body was Mimzi. Faintly seething with her sword buried into the creatures chest. The Keeper made shallow moans before she ripped the sword out. It began to bubble and morph into black liquid just as the last one, and Mimzi sunk into the melted remains. The black plasma painted her arms and legs. She painfully stood from the remains and bitterly sheathed her sword. She looked her glowing red eyes to Serana, who stood in disbelief at the sudden slaying. She didn't know if she should be elated or silently surprised in Mimzi's consideration, who looked anything but gratified.

Saint Jiub erupted in celebratory claps, "Well done! Bravo! What a show! Hahaha!"

Mimzi curled her lip in a scowl at the ghost and raised a brow at Serana, referring to who or what he was, and why he was there.

Serana shrugged in heavy breath, "Saint Jiub, slayer of Cliff Racers… he's working on an opus…"

Mimzi snarled, "Why do I care?"

Serana replied, "I don't know. He thinks we should."

The two left the saint to ponder and craft his opus in peace finally, where they trekked to the final spire, with the final Keeper. Mimzi's silence and heavy breath was beginning to chill Serana. Pure rage harnessed Mimzi, and Serana worried for whatever the product of it could be.

Serana quietly asked, "Mimzi?"

She ignored her and kept trudging forward. Serana added, "That was pretty reckless, don't you think?"

"What?" Mimzi raised.

"Free falling with that Keeper. You didn't consider you could just as easily been squashed? Or fell to your death? I mean, what was that? A suicide attempt?"

"I killed it, didn't I?"

"You're acting like I'm some kind of liar, or something. You think I was lying when I said there was a cure? I've been alive for a while, as you know. When I say there's a cure out there, I'm not manipulating you."

Mimzi stopped and looked to Serana with a piercing glare, "Oh I get it," she jabbed her finger into Serana's chest, "You want me to make you feel better. You've got guilt, whatever, you had to do what you had to do. You say whatever you need to make yourself feel better. There's nothing I can do for you there."

"I'm not lying to you, Mimzi. You're acting like you're already dead. Or you're planning on it. That's not going to happen, I won't let it."

"When we get out of here, you won't stop me from doing what I gotta do. I'm not wasting my time finding a fairytale 'cure' when I know exactly how this is going to pan out. When something sounds too good to be true, it is. Now I'm done."

Serana's eyes glossed. She was hoping she was wrong. But she had a hunch since they first left Valerica, "You're going to kill yourself."

Mimzi didn't respond, just reflected her red eyes into Serana's. As if that would be telling enough. Serana shook her head, "No. I won't let you get away with this. I've got your back, remember? We're… we're sisters…"

"Please stop."

"You said it to me! You had my back! You promised. I thought you trusted me."

"I promised your mother I would keep you safe while we are in the Soul Cairn. I said what I had to so you'd get inside the damn ruin. I was born alone and I'll die alone. Sooner rather than later, it seems," Mimzi's voice rattled.

"How could you. I thought you were my friend!"

"I don't have any friends!" Mimzi hollered, her voice carrying an echo in the sands, "You think anyone would want to be friends with me? Look at me! Look what you've done to me! Aela, Farkas… Vilkas- they would be disgusted in me if they could see me now. Kodlak is dead! Isran would crush me with his warhammer if he saw me… and I'd want him to! I can feel it, Serana. I'm a monster!"

Serana gasped, "Kodlak is dead?"

Mimzi continued in a broken cry, "I don't care if we had to or not. You get to live with my death after we are done! Just like how I have to die, because that's the sacrifice you and I made! So shut your damn mouth, and help me kill this Keeper. Or you'll regret ever naming me as a 'friend.'"

Serana swallowed the cruel words just hiding behind her teeth. She was burdened in guilt, and enraged by Mimzi, who loathed vampires so much she'd sooner die than live like one. Serana stayed in her tracks for a moment. Her head hung and she breathed out. Then kept her feet moving, following Mimzi to the last spire.

They came up to the final spire lingering over a barren throne room. The seat was empty, and the terrain of any undead. Mimzi and Serana quietly stepped up to the throne room, inspecting the area for the Keeper, but it was gone.

"Your mother said they were under the spires, right? So where is it," asked Mimzi.

Serana baffled, "I have no idea. I don't understand, it should be here. Unless…"

Unbeknownst to Serana, a large figure towered behind her. It's pale white orbs looking down to her ominously. Mimzi felt a sudden pull to look behind, "Serana, look out!"

The Keeper bashed its shield with brunt force, colliding into Serana and sending her hurdling into rubble.

Mimzi screamed, "No!"

She ran to Serana then, and the Keeper slashed its sword overhead before Mimzi out ran the slow strike. The blade struck into rock, shaking the ground, and more shakes followed as the Keeper pursued her. All Mimzi cared for in that moment was Serana. She bolted as fast as she could, out running the slow lunges of the Keeper behind her.

"Serana!"

Serana's withered body lay broken over piles of bone and rubble. Her skin was dusted and bloodied. She needed healing, but the Keeper was just behind. She picked herself from Serana and raised her spell hand to the creature. Serana's plight was an elixir of rage. Thrusts of fire bolts came in second intervals, crashing into the Keeper and slowing it down. One bolt flew into the creatures hollow face, sending it stumbling back. Before her bite, her magic would be well over spent. Now it seemed to be evolving, coinciding her rage.

Mimzi's channel of fire bolt was evolving, too. Like a living thing inside of palms. Crackles of lightning climbed to her arms and shoulders. Her palms glowed bright white, becoming a dual lightning spell. The surge crashed and snapped over the Keeper's being. The power of the shocks broke through the bonemeal armour, and blasted the creature apart in a blast of energy. It sent the remains of the Keeper into an explosion of debris.

Mimzi's power darkened and left, leaving her lusting for it. It fleeted to Serana over the rubble. She went running over the rocks to Serana, collapsing to her knees. Mimzi sputtered in cries and eagerly raised the healing spells to both her hands, laying them overtop Serana's body. The chiming grew stronger, and Mimzi struggled to keep the spell. Her magic ran dry, making her scream, "NO! Damn it!"

Mimzi's eyes filled in helplessness, which ran down her cheeks. The cruel words she left with Serana last they spoke. She wanted to die, but Serana would never have it. The truest companion she ever had. Her friend.

Mimzi gently picked up Serana off the ground, her bones cracking as she was lifted up. Despite Serana's weight and height being greater than her own, her new found strength as a vampire made Serana as light as a child. She peered her pearly red eyes to the castle. The barrier of magic trapping Valerica was lifted.

"I got you, Serana."

Mimzi muttered, "I got you… don't go yet…" She hiked Serana over her shoulder and carried her to the castle. Valerica awaited at the entrance, and balked at the sight of Mimzi carrying her broken, unconscious daughter.

Valerica hollered, "What have you done?!"

"Help her!" Mimzi desperately cried, "Please!"

Valerica ran over to Mimzi and Serana, "Come! Quickly! Bring her!" Mimzi struggled carrying Serana up the steps to the entryway. Valerica frantically rummaged through bottles of potions and ailments in her chests, then pulled out a long vile of bubbling pink liquid.

"Lay her down, gently!" Valerica barked. Mimzi set Serana down to the cobblestone ground.

Valerica came scurrying over to Serana whilst uncorking the ailment. Her breath was unsteady.

Mimzi wept, "What is that?"

Valerica poured the ailment into Serana's bloodied mouth, "The most powerful healing elixir I have. It'll heal her wounds. Unless she's already dead, and if she is… I swear to you, you will swiftly join her."

Mimzi stayed to her side and quietly wept, "Wake up. Serana… wake up. I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."

Valerica stayed patiently awaiting as the elixir did its work. In an instant, Serana's bones snapped together all at once, and she awoke in a deep inhale, sitting up fast. Mimzi and Valerica stunned, with Valerica enveloping Serana in a tight embrace at her awakening. Mimzi exhaled in relief, discreetly wiping away her tears.

Serana muttered through Valerica's shoulder, "Mimzi… where is Mimzi?"

Valerica tried to hold onto Serana but she pulled away, and lunged to Mimzi with a hug. Valerica watched on as Serana firmly gripped Mimzi. She startled at the sudden embrace, but closed her eyes and leaned into her shoulder. The two held onto each other for sometime, before Serana slowly released, "I know you hate me and I don't know what else I can do to change that. But… I can't imagine living in a world without you now that I know you. I understand you can't live like this… but I can't live without you. And… it's pathetic. So I'm begging you, please don't die. Fight to live and be cured. Trust me. You're my shield-sister… the greatest friend I've ever had. Believe me when I say I will not fail you."

Mimzi's tears rolled down her cheeks, "I don't hate you, you dolt. You scared me half to death… I thought I lost…" Serana gripped Mimzi into a hug again. Valerica slowly stood from the two, silently content to see her daughter's love for a friend, the first in her life.

Mimzi helped Serana off the ground. Valerica awaited for the girls to compose themselves before expressing, "You two actually managed to defeat all three Keepers. I'm not easily impressed, but I'm impressed."

Serana divulged, "We need to get back to Tamriel as soon as possible. Mother, we need the scroll."

"Of course, come with me. It's in the arena. Keep watch for Durnehviir. Now that the barrier is gone, he's almost certain to investigate."

Mimzi groaned, "That's great."

Valerica pushed through the doors with ease, and inside was a large sand pit. Along the edges were nearly buried bones of dragons and mammoths. Valerica lead their way into the sandpit to a closed off room on the far right of the arena. Then a roar echoed over the rapid strikes of lightning. The sound struck all three in a chill of horror, the confirmation when great furled wings flew over the pit. Valerica shrieked, "It's… it's him! Durnehviir! He's here!"

Serana gasped, "By the blood."

Mimzi promptly drew her sword and ran undaunted into the centre of the circle.

Valerica shouted, "Is she mad?!"

"Mimzi!" Serana ran after her, causing Valerica to equip her spells and join their defence.

The dragon was robed in rotten flesh. Bones showing through its threading scales, and curled horns like a ram. Mimzi followed the dragon's soar. It Shouted to the ground, creating skeletons rising from the pit.

Mimzi bellowed, "You two deal with the undead! I'll handle the dragon!"

Valerica shrilled, "I beg your pardon?"

Mimzi ran to the outskirts of the arena, evading the skeletons that were toppled by Valerica and Serana's magic. Durnehviir flew over the pit again casting down a wave of fire. She lifted a ward to block the flame and knelt down with her head low. As the fire washed out, she shot up and Shouted, "JOOR… ZAH… FRUL!"

Dragonrend hit Durnehviir in a loud crash, sending the dragon spiralling down into the pit.

Mimzi shrieked to Valerica and Serana, "Look out!"

The dragon crashed into the centre, sending Valerica and Serana lunging from the impact. Mimzi sprinted across, with skeletons continuing to rise alongside her. She dodged their threading hands as they tried to clasp onto her boots. Yet the roughness of their bones would bruise and thrash her calves. The dragon resolved from the crash and growled to the charging vampire. He roared and another spray of fire birthed from its maw. Mimzi raised her ward again and the flames spread to the sides of the barrier. Durnehviir opened his jaws and over Mimzi, who glided passed his clamp down. She slid under his belly and thrashed her sword. Durnehviir slammed his belly down, causing Mimzi to quickly flourish right from his body. She kicked back up to her feet and hands. She tried to run out from under him, till he bashed his left wing against Mimzi, sending her thudding. She stood up fast and thrashed her sword against an incoming skeleton. Durnehviir went to clamp his jaw around Mimzi again. She only saw a glimpse of his decaying, flesh-threaded teeth. She lunged her sword up into the roof of Durnehviir's maw. The dragon screeched and ripped away— Mimzi held on tightly to the hilt and retook her blade.

Serana and Valerica stole their attention to the dragon now, casting arrays of ice spikes and lightning strikes, damaging Durnehviir's thick scales. The dragon Shouted flecks of ice at the two, who quickly warded the attack. Mimzi used this moment to climb Durnehviir's tail and hind scales. Mimzi pierced her sword into the dragon's spine. He roared agonizingly and thrashed Mimzi off, she collided hard into the ground. Her ribs ached and head bloodied from the fall, but she shot up to her feet anyway. The dragon kicked up dust with its wings and convulsed before thudding lifeless. It disappeared in a cloud of purple haze. Mimzi disturbed at the sight of this, angrily approaching the dust cloud that remained from Durnehviir's struggle.

The skeletons fell back to bones, and the arena of the castle went still once more. Valerica and Serana sprinted to Mimzi, who stared into Durnehviir's ruts in the sand. Her red eyes burned in dejection.

Serana hollered, "Mimzi! You alright?!"

The two came up to Mimzi in a loss for breath. Valerica marvelled at the death place of Durnehviir, "Forgive my astonishment. I never thought I'd ever witness the death of that dragon. Serana neglected to mention you were a Tongue."

"She's actually called a 'Dragonborn' or whatever…" Serana corrected.

Valerica baffled, "Well, it's astonishing, to think I doubted you is laughable now."

Serana raised to Mimzi who still stared into the spot in discontent, "Mimzi? Are you okay?"

"It didn't release a soul." Mimzi uttered, "I kill a dragon. I take their soul. That's how it goes…"

Serana rejoined, "Every time?"

"Every time. This doesn't make sense. Unless… the gods are so pissed off with my red eyes and fangs they took away my 'dragon soul' privileges."

Serana couldn't help but titter, "That's a stretch."

Valerica went forlorn, "It's not that strange for this kind of dragon. There's a good chance he's not even dead."

"What?" Mimzi and Serana chimed.

"He's been in this realm for millennia. His will is owed to the Ideal Masters, Lords of Necromancy. There's a chance that dragon could never die, and with this defeat, he will reincarnate once again."

"How long could that take?" Mimzi asked.

Valerica suggested, "Years? Months? Days? Minutes? There's no telling how long it could take. Maybe it's best we don't wait and find out."

"Good call. Besides, we have other matters to get to," Serana digressed and marched with her mother to the far off room. Valerica pulled the chain to the doors, which revealed a nook with more shelves in ingredients and an alchemy table. To the end of the room was a display case with the Elder Scroll. Valerica unlocked the lid and pried the scroll up into both hands. She turned with care to the two of them. Mimzi carefully took the scroll from Valerica's hand.

"This is now yours… I've safeguarded this for centuries. I trust you can provide it protection worthy of that dedication," Valerica said as she reluctantly released the scroll into Mimzi's hands.

Serana handed Mimzi the scabbard for the scroll, and she belted it to her waist after strapping the scroll securely into the leather. The scroll weighted on her back heavily.

Mimzi ached and smirked at Serana, "Damn, now I know why you hated lugging this thing around."

"Heavy, right?"

Mimzi and Serana looked to Valerica. Serana wove her mother in a tender embrace. Valerica hugged her back tightly, closing her eyes in relief. Serana pulled away and asked, "Will you come with us?"

"No… it's far too dangerous for both of us to be on Nirn. I would rather have you here with me, but something tells me you'd rather die than commit to that."

Mimzi scoffed at Valerica, "Look at you, practicing respect, looks good on you."

Serana groaned, "Mimzi…"

"No. I understand now. I chose not to see your pain in the heights of your father's madness. I knew if I let myself see how horrible I treated you, your father would surely overtake us. I could have handled things so much differently, and I failed. I can't imagine how lonely it must have been. I should have been there for you, Serana. I am so sorry… I didn't see…"

"I forgive you, mother," tearily smiled Serana, "I love you."

Valerica pulled Serana in for another hug, "I love you too, my dearest. Be safe. Stay close to Mimzi. She'll protect you."

Serana pulled away again and asked, "About that…" She nervously looked to Mimzi, who resolved to a worried glare. Serana asked to her mother, "We need to do something as soon as possible. I think you may know what it is but I need to know who to look for."

Valerica gently released, "What are you asking, Serana?"

"Are there people in Skyrim who know the craft of curing vampirism?"

Valerica looked to Mimzi and tilted her head, "Of course. It's a shame. You'd make a superior vampire. But I can see why that's not your desire."

Mimzi followed up, "Do you know who can cure me? Or how?"

Valerica thought deeply and explained, "Well, if my daughter is as smart as I know she is, she would have trapped your soul in a gem before turning you."

Serana confirmed, "I did."

"Then you have the most important part of the ritual that you'll need to perform it. It's been a long time since I've walked the soil of Nirn and the names of warlocks who practiced this craft are likely long dead by now. Another important factor is whether or not you've fed. I believe the ritual is not possible if you have."

Mimzi assured shallowly, "No."

Valerica rejoined, "Have you fallen in lust for blood?"

Serana waited for Mimzi to proudly say no, just as she would any other time. But she remained silent and distraught by the question. Her red eyes wilted in fear, resenting the answer.

"I take your painful silence as a yes," Valerica confirmed, with Mimzi wearily nodding (much to Serana's surprise). Valerica added, "Then if this is what you want to do, I implore you do it quick. Your hunger will only become far worse in time, especially on the mainland with other mortals."

Serana asked, "Do you know how to perform it?"

Valerica irked, "By the blood, of course not! The ritual is a pure affront to Molag Bal and his power. I still owe my loyalty to him, so not exactly my cup of tea."

Mimzi gloomed, "So, I'm stuck like this…"

Serana shook her head in denial, "No, there has to be a way. I need to keep my promise. I just need someone who can do this ritual."

Valerica soothed, "Calm down, my dearest. There is perhaps something I can try. A clairvoyant spell. Very difficult to channel, but I'll try my best."

Valerica raised her hands and closed her eyes. Inside Valerica's mind, she could see flickers of a marshland, and a man robed in blue. He knelt down to a mound, generous deathbell along an altar. The man stood alone in the dark of night, staring up at the moons. Valerica snapped back to her reality and took a breath before opening her eyes.

Serana and Mimzi awaited with bated breath, "What did you see?"

"A man… Redguard," Valerica described, "He wore blue arcane robes… communing to an altar in a grove of death bell. Trees were curled and dead. Mist coming off the still waters. He stood at a mound at night."

Mimzi asked, "Sounds like Hjaalmarch. What did the mound look like?"

Valerica closed her eyes and tried to recall, "Surrounded by standing stones, and… and ancient Nordic carvings. I swear I could see lights from torches in the distance, and the outline of a dock."

"That's just outside Morthal!" Mimzi beamed with a fanged smile, "I just passed that exact place a few weeks back with Farkas. This man- he's gotta be in Morthal."

Serana smiled back excitedly, "That's it! That's what we needed. Hjaalmarch isn't far once we get to the mainland."

"Hopefully this guy isn't a bastard." Mimzi mentioned.

Serana snickered, "Nothing a seduction spell can't fix."

Valerica contently added, "I'm glad I could be of assistance. Now, the time has come for you two to return to Nirn."

Serana earnestly said, "Agreed. We should get back to the portal."

Mimzi left out the door first, leaving Serana and Valerica alone.

"I'll come back for you… I promise," Serana lamented sadly.

Valerica reassured, "I'm not trapped any longer, Serana. But there will come a time the Ideal Masters will come for my soul again, when that happens, I must be prepared. At least now I know what to do to protect myself. If you do fall Harkon, I would love nothing more than to see you again."

"As soon as that happens I'll come back, I promise."

They waved one last farewell, before Serana reluctantly departed. She caught up to Mimzi who asked, "You alright?"

"Yeah…" Serana mumbled sadly, "Just wish she could come with us. For now, I've got a promise to keep."

Mimzi looked to Serana and warmly said, "Yes, you do. I trust you. Onwards, sister."