The Story of the Red Witch
Chapter Thirty One: Harmony
Part One
Innis came up to Liri’s sleeping quarters with a grin on her face that eased the elder sister’s heart.
Liri: Making new friends?
Innis: Boy did I ever!
Innis: ‘Wess is pretty cool. She said she’d like to look into giving me some Dwemer implants to buff my leg strength!
Liri: Yeah… How about, no… Anyone else?
Innis: Hmm… Ah! The busty Imperial! The one always around that vampire!
Liri: Sevetia?
Innis: Yeah, her! She was pretty cool too, and offered to spar with me anytime I wanted.
Innis: However, I think I may have smelled or something to her vampire… She kind of wanted nothing to do with me…
Liri: *sigh* Teresa can be like that…
Innis: Oh! Ooooh! I also met up with your vampire!
Liri: (Serana… I still need to make up with her…) How was she?
Innis: *shrugs* Iunno? Distant I guess. New haircut too. Looks cute on her—
Liri: Speaking of cute, where’d you get those overalls from?
Innis: Huh? Oh you like? ‘Wess gave them to me. Said, she couldn’t stand it if I were uncomfortable under her roof. She’s very hospitable, sis.
Liri: I’d say… Hey… Were you complaining to her? Didn’t I tell you not to—
The pair share a look, and they both broke out into laughter.
Liri: I can’t count the times I’ve said that to you…
Innis: And I can’t count the times I complained away anyway…
Liri took a deep breath and looked at her younger sister intently.
Liri: Is this for real? Are you really here and we don’t have to come to blows?
Innis: *nods* I’m… I’m really here, sis.
Part Two
Liri fell back on her bed and couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.
Liri: Divines! This feels like a dream… How did this all come about? Weren’t you hell-bent on taking me back? What happened—
Innis laid beside her on the bed.
Innis: You got through to me… Well, you and then the time I spent with Silas also helped a bit.
Liri snapped to a seated position and Innis burst into laughter.
Innis: Nononono! It wasn’t anything inappropriate. ALTHOUGH I DID get undressed for him for a little while—
Sparks began to dance on Liri’s skin as she jumped from the bed.
Liri: EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! And this time you messed with my sister! You’re a dead man vampire—
Innis contained her laughter as best as she could and grabbed Liri from behind.
Innis: Pfft… I-i-it was a joke, sis! (I mean I did undress but…) Y-you need to lighten up a bit!
Innis: If you keep treating poor Silas like this, it’ll be ages before I ever become an Auntie—
Liri freed herself from Innis’s grip and looked physically disgusted by the thought.
Liri: Please tell me this is another of your jokes!
Innis: *shrugs* Eh, I guess. (But not really.)
Liri: *sigh* Honestly… How can you even joke about that man?! He’s so infuriating…
Innis: Eh, I can see how you’d think that. I guess when you don’t have romantic feelings for him and can look at everything he does objectively… He’s not THAT bad. He’s quite the catch to be honest.
Liri: (Silas and Innis…)
Liri thought about that pairing, and immediately dispelled the thought from her head with fake gag.
Liri: Speaking of Silas, how DID he come across you anyway?
Part Three
Innis: Well… I was heading back to our Clan—oh, you know they relocated right? They’re near a lake near Falkreath. Anyway, I was finally going to report in on my failure to capture you—
Liri: But that’s a death sentence! (Or worse…)
Innis: I know, but I didn’t know what else to do at the time…
Innis: I had just gotten kidnapped by some vampires, and separated from the only two people that seemed to give a damn about me besides you… And with leads on neither, what alternatives did I have?
Innis: Plus I wasn’t one hundred percent sold on whether or not I should go against the Clan like you did. I… I wasn’t… I’m not as strong as you, nor am I as confident in myself as you are…
Innis: But you told me not to doubt myself! So rather than go straight back to our Clan, I made a quick stop in Riverwood… And that’s where I saw him. With that damned scroll on his back.
Liri: Wait, YOU found HIM?
Innis: *nods* But it wasn’t for lack of trying. He was so damned loud as he asked about me, that if I was nearby I was bound to come and see who was searching for me.
Liri: Well… We were worried about you…
Innis pouted and then sighed.
Innis: I know… But I’m not used to… All of this. Like… I know you loved me, and you tried to show it in your own way…
Innis: But this warm chest aching feeling I’m getting knowing you and Silas are both alright and nearby… The amount of times I’ve smiled today alone… I’d never imagine either back home…
Innis knelt before Liri startling her.
Innis: Sis… I like this feeling! Please tell me that this’ll last forever! Please…
Liri knelt as well and embraced her.
Liri: I can’t promise you anything, but I will promise that I’ll do everything in my power to make this feeling last as long as I can.
Part Four
Moments later an automaton ascended the steps and interrupted the siblings.
Automaton: Nord, designation: ‘Liri’s Kid Sister’, has been summoned by Master Azahretz!
Innis: Ah! It must be time!
Liri: Time for…?
Innis: ‘Wess is gonna let me test out the durability of some of her new prototypes, and I might even be able to ride one! Fingers crossed!
Liri: (She bounces back much better than me, that’s for sure…) Hey Innis—
Innis: Sweetrolls. Homemade ones. None of that store bought garbage. That’s all I’m gonna say. *wink* Good luck sis!
As Innis made her way downstairs with Azsanwess’s automaton, Liri sat on her bed and racked her brain on how to appropriately confront this Silas situation. But all she was coming up was…
Liri: Sweetrolls… Really? I never pegged him for having a sweet tooth. *smirks* That’s kinda cute…
Liri: A-ah! I meant stupid! Yeah, he’s old as dirt! He should’ve grown out of that already… Yeah… That’s what I meant…
Liri sighed and was tempted to fall back into bed and sleep another day away, but without her friends anger and sadness keeping her company, she didn’t feel up to it…
Liri: Sweetrolls, huh?
Liri got up and decided to head downstairs as well.
Liri: I guess I could go for some food… And I wouldn’t mind having a pastry or two on the side…
Purposely bypassing the kitchen on her way down, Liri soon arrived to the lower level which she realized felt much bigger without as many people occupying the space at once.
???: Wow, right? How’d such a small race create all this…
Liri turned and saw the moth priest with her head in a book, never once looking up.
Liri: Dexi Evicus, right?
Part Five
The moth priest nodded.
Liri: Peculiar name.
Dexi: Parents wanted a boy, got me instead. Gods… Reading all this, I feel like I was born in the wrong time as the wrong person…
Liri: Um… Find any books on pastries in your browsing?
Dexi stopped flipping through her book, but didn’t look up.
Dexi: You’ll find them with her favorites. Don’t know why, she hates the things.
Liri: (But Silas doesn’t…) Thanks!
Liri left the priest to her reading and went to search through the Dwemer’s tomes for this ‘favorite’ pastry book which sounded simple enough…
…Until Liri actually saw that Azsanwess had five bookcases crammed full of her ‘favorite’ books. Nevertheless, Liri decided to tackle the task… But she didn’t do it with a smile.
Liri: (How can someone have SO MANY favorite books? She probably doesn’t even like them all that much! Couldn’t this have been organized by subject or something?)
Liri: (Like, why is the Chronicles of Nchuleft next to The Betrayed which is next to the Complete Automaton Compendium which is next to Byrazara: Woman of the Stars—)
???: (Why does it matter, it’s HER collection. SHE should be able to do with it as SHE fits.)
Liri ceased searching and awkwardly turned around.
Liri: H-hey Serana. I was… Uh…
The heiress to the Volkihar Clan looked none too pleased to see Liri.
Serana: Save it. Find out what you wanted?
Liri: (She means from earlier…) I… Look, me and Silas are gonna talk about that later, so why don’t we—
Serana: If I was hiding something from you regardless of why I was hiding it, would you go behind my back to find out what it was?
Part Six
Liri: Y-you’d never do that. Besides, you kind of can’t—
Serana: Can’t I? If I couldn’t, why didn’t you just use our link to find out what you wanted? And don’t think I didn’t feel you try!
Serana: So stop deflecting and answer my question, would you go behind my back?
Liri smiled and shook her head.
Liri: Honestly, I don’t know. When it comes to Silas I’m just not myself…
Serana: Clearly… By the way, nice right hand. Didn’t know magic training would make your punches so powerful.
The smile on Serana’s face eased the tension that was building within Liri.
Liri: I… I won’t do that again. You have my word.
Serana waved away her remark.
Serana: Psh! Yeah it will, and we’ll have this conversation all over again…
Serana: *laughs* But that’s okay, as long as you’ve learned your lesson.
She flicked Liri’s forehead, and Liri feigned like she was more hurt than she was.
Liri: *groans* Yes ma’am…
Serana: Good, now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to catch up with your hubby! Ask him about how my mother’s doing. And what’s taking him on making me a godmother—
Liri: NOOO! Not you too!
Serana: *laughs* I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking care of a little Liri and Silas from time to time. They’d probably be adorable honestly—
Liri: Nope! Uh-uh! We are NOT doing this! Go and talk to him about screwing Lisaly for all I care, I am NOT talking about this!
Serana: (…Yet!)
Serana smirked as Liri reddened, unable to come up with a retort.
Serana: Anyway, you’re looking for a pastry book? Try the top shelf of the fourth bookshelf.
With that Serana went off to find Silas, and Liri almost instantly was able to find the book she was looking for.
Liri: Yes! And it’s so simple too! This making him one of these should be a breeze!
Part Seven
~Later~
Liri: AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! Why isn’t this working!?!
Liri was on the verge of pulling her hair out as attempt after attempt had ended in failure.
She was always able to get the finished product to LOOK like a bonafide sweetroll, but no matter how she went about it, the taste was always… Off…
Liri: I don’t get it! I’m an excellent cook! I had people ask for THIRDS when it was my time to cook back with the Shadowswords… So what’s going—
Liri saw something blue in the corner of her eye and immediately whipped around.
Liri: Hey Aelfna! You like my cooking right?!
The question took the Halfling by surprise considering their current relationship with one another.
Aelfna: I… uh… I do?
Sevetia: Really?
Aelfna: Yeah! We might not be on good terms right now, but I’ll admit that her cooking has always been superb!
Sevetia: Ha! Then you should give her sweetrolls a try!
Aelfna: Oh? Liri made sweetolls for everyone? *slurp* I’m just drooling thinking about how they—
Liri: N-NO I DIDN’T!!!
Liri gave Sevetia a death glare and turned to resume her cooking, while Sevetia laughed and walked off, leaving Aelfna confused about what just occurred.
Liri: Okay… It should be about done now… I swear on my mother’s grave… if this next one doesn’t come out right, I’m never touching one of these things ever again—
???: Oh? Someone’s making sweets?
Liri’s face blanched.
Liri: (N-no! Not him! Not now!)
Before Liri could react, Silas retrieved the sweetroll and took a bite.
Part Eight
Liri saw neither elation nor disgust in his face, and rather than spit it out like Liri had done to previous others, Silas devoured the entire thing as she awkwardly awaited his opinion…
Liri: W-well…?
Silas: …You used one of Azsanwess’s books as a guide didn’t you?
Liri: *crestfallen* …You could tell…
Silas: Yeah. It’d give it a solid C+.
Liri: I… I see…
Silas: It’s not your fault, and to be honest, that’s the best grade I’ve ever given anything made from one of her recipes. I didn’t know you were a decent cook.
Liri: (Yeah, I guess a C+ WOULD only be decent…) I… thought I was…
Silas: Eh, it’s not your cooking that’s at fault, it’s the recipe. I guarantee it. Let’s see here…
Silas began looking through the various ingredients gathered…
…Until he finally assembled everything he deemed necessary.
Silas: Yeah, this should do it. Try to make a sweetroll with just this using the logical substitutions where necessary.
Liri: I don’t know… There’s not even any Ash Hopper Jelly…
Liri: Besides, if I can’t get better than a C+ with Azsanwess’s highest rated recipe—
Silas: THAT’S what this was? Trust me, using these ingredients and a bit of love will make you crush that C+!
Liri’s face flushed as his words made her remember the teasing Innis and Serana had done earlier.
Liri: (I-it’s just a dumb apology sweetroll! This doesn’t mean ANYTHING!)
Determined to not fail this time, Liri took Silas’s advice…
…And was able to bake a sweetroll that looked and smelled better than anything she’d made prior.
Liri: (Now I only hope it tastes as good as it looks…)
Part Nine
Silas smirked at Liri, took one bite, and immediately dropped the sweetroll.
Liri: I knew it! I… sweets just aren’t my thing. I-I could make you something else! I didn’t mean for you to—
Silas: You want me to be completely transparent with you?
Liri hesitated before nodding, and then Silas turned from her.
Silas: I… I remembered the happiest time in my life… When I married Lisaly…
Liri: (Why is he telling me this—)
Silas: She always made the best sweetrolls, and when I… When she died I swore them off even though they were my favorite food.
Liri: But these recipes?
Silas: They're Azsanwess’s attempts in creating what she believes a sweetroll to be because I refused to give her the recipe. It was her way to try and cheer me up back then…
The sadness in his voice reminded Liri of what Azsanwess had said, ‘I saw the same eyes I did in the lost man I met up with centuries ago… Eyes obsessed with vengeance.’ And…
‘You should relish the time you have with him…’
Liri: After all of this is over… Where do you see yourself, Silas?
Silas: If we win? *frowns* Who knows… Never thought that far ahead—
Liri: LIAR! What happened to you being transparent?!
Silas: What in Oblivion are you getting at—oh… Azsanwess… What exactly did she tell you?
Liri: N-nothing… (Just be honest with him!) I… She… *sigh* She told me to and relish the time I have with you. But she said it like… Like you don’t plan to live through to the end of this…
Silas went silent for quite some time before looking at Liri with a blank look on his face.
Silas: What if that IS my endgame, for us to win at my expense—
Without hesitation, Liri gave Silas a fierce slap that echoed throughout Azsanwess’s home, and was a signal for everyone that the two of them needed their space…
Part Ten
Liri: Did… Did you ever even think about me?
Silas: I could ask you the same. You went behind my back, you’ve never trusted me no matter how hard I’ve tried to show you I’m being honest with you!
Silas: And you lash out at me both vocally and physically whenever you think I’ve wronged you even if I didn’t! I’m… I’m tired. I’ve lived too long, and after I get my revenge, what’s left for me? Really?
Liri: I… (Don’t hesitate now! Just say what’s in your heart!) I mean…
Silas: *sigh* I thought so.
He brushed past her as he began to walk away.
Silas: And the sweetroll? I’d give it a solid—
Liri: ME!
Silas: Excuse me?
Liri: You asked me what’s left for you? I am, you insufferable man! So stop with your pity party and just accept my illogical and idiotic love for you, you idiot!
Silas stopped and chuckled.
Silas: Is that REALLY how you’re going to do this? Psh! You almost got me thinking that I was your first love or something…
Silas waited and waited for her vicious comeback, but it never came.
Silas: *blinks* Wait… You’re not serious… Are you?
Liri: What if I am… Are you gonna take responsibility for making me feel this way?
Silas: . . . . . . Only if you get on your knees and call me ‘Master’. (Yeah, that’s it! She’ll never do that. Now I can focus on—)
Without skipping a beat, Liri did as instructed and got down on her knees and bowed before Silas.
Liri: Silas… Mast—
Silas: STOP! (Liri… You wouldn’t! Not the woman I know…) D-don’t you dare fucking say it!
Liri looked up at Silas with teary eyes.
Liri: Master Silas, you make my chest ache warmly and I wish to feel this way forever… I love you, Master. Please stay with me forever.
Part Eleven
Silas: Stop it…
Liri: But Master—
Silas: Fuck! I said stop it already! Your sister was right! The only reason you’d like me, a vampire, at all is because of this damned Vampiric Suggestion.
Silas: I won’t take advantage of your feelings, especially if they’re manufactured because of something that I can’t even control! I’m sorry Liri, but I can’t—
Liri: You think I can’t tell the difference between Vampire’s Seduction and Vampiric Suggestion? You think the first time we kissed was because that aphrodisiac-like scent of yours?
Liri stood and wiped the tears from her eyes.
Liri: I… have layers upon layers of magical protection protecting me every second. You think I wouldn’t take your kind into account?
Silas: Wait… So that means…
Liri: Yes. …I’ve subconsciously trusted you and had feelings for you ever since you took that collar off of me. And I... I just don’t want these feelings to be trampled on…
Liri: That’s why I get so irate, that’s why I lash out at you, that’s why I can’t control myself… It’s a shitty reason, but… That’s me being transparent. I love you, Silas…
Liri: And although I don’t feel like getting back on my knees… I’m asking you again, will you please stay with me forever, Mast—
Silas pulled Liri close, causing her to let out a surprised cry, and kissed every inch of her glowing face before his succulent, hungry mouth enveloped her lips…
Silas then turned Liri around and began to kiss her up and down her neck.
Silas: You know that ‘Master’ thing was just a joke? Please don’t ever—
Liri: Don’t ever what… MASTER?
Silas: (Just when I thought I wanted to live… she’s gonna be the death of me—)
???: (Hey, is this a bad time? I kinda just remembered that I can do this and… I want to meet up…)
Silas: Rosalie!?!
Notes:
It's been fucking forever but I finally feel like not only posting my content on this site again (the transition from a made for tumblr story to a LL story is hella annoying...), but I also feel like writing again! So with that said, I will keep releasing these chapters regularly until I catch up (so chapter 37 I believe). THEN I will do my utmost to release new content as soon as possible, because I owe it to everyone who's kept up with this and all of my stories to finish this ride I've taken you all on. So... I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you all like how this story will play out in the end.
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