The Blackreach Experiments Part 13 - Sacrifices

 

If you missed part 12, you can find it here: http://www.loverslab.com/blog/148/entry-673-the-blackreach-experiments-part-12/

 

 

**** A few months after General Tullius departed Riften ****

 

Celine had gone missing recently and Jarl Lawgiver had come to speak to Kiva. “Please, Jarl Laila Lawgiver, if you find anything out about my mother let me know. I don’t want to lose her too.”

 

 

Laila looked down at Kiva with pity. “Kiva dear, we’ll do everything we can to find her. And don’t worry, even without your mother, you can still live here. Plenty of people around here will look after you.

“Thank you Laila. It means a lot.” Kiva said through sobs.

 

 

Laila was almost in tears herself. “Come here child.” Laila stretched out her arms to hug Kiva. “I have some good news. General Tullius was extremely impressed with the documents you gave him and so was I. He wants you to come live in Solitude and work in the palace. I’ll have Mjoll escort you there if you decide.

 

 

“What about my mom?” Kiva asked. Laila looked into her eyes, “I’m sure we’ll find her by then but if not, you’ll be fine. Solitude will be better for you I think. Anyway, you’ve been through a lot. Think it over.”

Kiva nodded her head. Laila excused herself and left quietly.

 

 

Kiva, now alone sat in front of the fire. “Hehe, that went better than expected. Soon I can complete the ritual.” She was almost giddy with excitement.

 

 

Everything in the city was going normally since Maven was arrested. No one had heard a word about her other than she had been shipped off to Cyrodil.

 

 

 

With the rebellion over, many Stormcloaks laid down arms. Imperial and Dawnguard ranks in Skyrim swelled. The biggest news was now in the war against the dragons. No one knew why the Dwemer constructs turned on the dragons but they had pushed them all the way back to Skuldafn and most fled Skyrim completely.

 

 

**** Around the same time, inside the Bannered Mare ****

 

 

“I’m sorry Mani, but with the war, it’s been almost impossible to get to the eastern side of Skyrim.”

 

 

“I know, but the battle is moving to Skuldafn so we should be able to make it to Riften starting tomorrow.

 

 

They both agreed to leave early in the morning and went to their separate rooms.

 

 

**** North of Riften ****

 

A legion of soldiers were preparing for the journey to Skuldafn. The dragonborn was as ready as he was going to be and the Empire was not about to let him go alone.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Dwemer automatons did such a good job patrolling that no dragons dared attack the armies gathering.

 

 

Several mages had gotten together and built an airship from parts found in Solstheim. It would ferry the troops to Skuldafn and after victory, it would be used to keep a constant garrison there. In the distance, the soldiers could see their ride approaching. The dragonborn was on board as well, having recently learned the dragonrend shout from a meeting with a moth priest.

 

The airship, loaded with soldiers, ascended toward Skuldafn.

 

 

 

**** At a quiet spot by Lake Ilinalta ****

 

Arissa was pondering the direction her life had taken. She came here because of a shipwreck, she’d killed to get back home, and now she was this…monstrosity. She couldn’t go to anyone for help without them attacking and she couldn’t even try for revenge. To add insult to injury, her magical armor vanished along with her ice powers when Alduin discarded her.

 

 

The dragon skin was still slowly creeping up her body. “When will the changes stop,” she said quietly.

 

 

**** Skuldafn ****

 

The soldiers were just now arriving and already the battles were fierce and bloody.

 

 

Dozens were dying but they were cutting a bloody swath to the top of the ruins.

 

 

At the top they discovered an active portal to Sovengarde. The dragonborn was the first to leap into the portal.

 

 

He made his way down a path until he came to a bridge of bone and a guardian.

 

 

After defeating the guardian he was granted access to Shor’s Hall. The inside was splendid and filled with the spirits of great heroes.

 

 

He emerged with three heroes of legend. At the end of the bridge were a host of soldiers that made it through the portal.

 

 

Together, they battled Alduin. The fighting was fierce. The spirits in Shor’s Hall would have much company today.

 

 

After a long battle, Alduin was defeated. His scales exploded from his body. Burst by the eruption of stolen souls.

 

 

The guardian was extremely displeased that so many mortals had made their way into Sovengarde. “Mortals should not be here, never in such number. However, you have vanquished a great evil today. I will send all of you back to Nirn and disable Alduin’s portal.”

 

 

**** On the Ilinalta lakeside ****

 

Arissa could feel a huge burden lifted from her. Somehow, she knew that Alduin was defeated. She felt like she could finally relax.

 

 

**** At the abandoned Black Briar Estate ****

 

The sounds of labor echoed throughout the building. Kiva had cast a muffle spell around the estate so no one outside would hear anything.

 

 

Celine’s labor lasted a few hours.

 

 

Once the delivery was complete, Kiva wrapped the baby in a cloth and laid it on the floor. She placed her hands on the child to stop her from crying.

 

 

Kiva stood over the child, dagger in hand. She started reciting a spell in a daedric tongue.

 

“MOLAG BAL LORD OF DOMINATION ACCEPT THIS SACRIFICE A PURE SOUL OF AN INFANT TAKEN FROM ONE WHO TRUSTS ME ABOVE ALL ELSE LET ME REGAIN MY HUMAN FORM AND WEAR THIS ILLUSION NO LONGER.”

 

 

 

She heard a deep voice all around her. “Very well, we have an accord.”

Kiva thrust the dagger into the child. The crying stopped.

She pulled the bloody dagger out and stabbed herself to complete the ritual.

 

 

She awoke on the floor, next a pile of ash that had been the child.

 

 

Kiva walked over to Celine who was still on the table, exhausted. “Mistress…my baby?” “There is no child, pet. Don’t concern yourself with that now. Rest.” Celine didn’t have much choice, her body was too weak to do anything. She closed her eyes. She was sad, but she couldn’t figure out why.”

 

 

Blue fire engulfed Kiva’s hand. “Thanks to you pet, I know have an immortal body. But what to do with you? You have been far too useful a pet to discard. I’m going to keep you around.”

 

 

“Now. Forget your pain, your sadness, your friends and enemies, your knowledge, your desires, your hopes and fears. Retain only what you need to be my pet.”

 

 

Sometime later, Celine woke up at home. “Good morning Pet.” Kiva said.

“How did we get back home Mistress?”

“Well, we’re not at home. This is a replica of our old house. I have a new job in Solitude but don’t worry. I’ll take you with me, in fact we’re here now. Step outside and you’ll see.” Kiva walked to the door and seemed to teleport out.

 

 

When Celine opened the door, she found herself in a massive bedroom.

“I must be the size of a child’s doll.”

“A little smaller actually.” Kiva’s voice was loud and had an odd echo to it.

 

Kiva was kneeling next to the house. “This is your new life Pet. Everything you need is in the house. You can’t leave the table though.” Celine just nodded her head dumbly.

 

 

Kiva sat down and asked. “Is there anything you want me to bring you Pet?”

Celine thought for a second. “I want Mani….I miss him. He’ll be happy here with us right?” “Yes Pet, he will. I’ll see if I can locate him.”

 

 

 

Now, you have a good day Pet. I have to report to the castle to start my new job. Kiva waved good bye to her Pet.

 

 

As she was walking to the castle she thought, “I always love getting new things. Maybe I’ll get her a collar with a little bell. I bet I can find some cute doll clothes in town…” she continued that line of thought all the way to the castle.