Upon arriving to Solitude, Silas felt a chill in the air the likes he hadn’t felt in centuries…

 

Silas: On a scale of one to ten, how sure are you about me not killing—

 

 

Neila: If you’re asking me that, then you felt that chill too. Which means you know damn well that he’s back.

 

Silas: *sigh* (Right…)

 

Neila: So, where are you supposed to meet?

 

 

Silas: Are you SURE you’re not going to attack her?

 

Neila: I sat on information I had about her previous whereabouts for over two weeks. The Night Unending is much more important…

 

 

Neila: Even IF my heart is telling me otherwise…

 

Silas: …Were you as close with him as you were with the previous Emperors?

 

Neila: *sigh* How does one get over such a heavy loss…

 

 

Neila looked at Silas and shook her head.

 

Neila: Suppose you’re not the one to ask about such things though—

 

Silas: I’ve experienced and handled loss…

 

 

Silas: I used to be a soldier and a werewolf. I used to have friends… My own pack. *looks at his hands* This curse has made me have to suffer through losing them all… As I alone live on…

 

 

Neila: But you didn’t love them.

 

Silas: Who says I didn’t? I may not have loved any of them romantically, but that didn’t mean their deaths were any easier for me.

 

 

Neila: Then why is Lisaly’s death worse than theirs?

 

Silas: …Because it’s…

 

Silas remembered his conversation with Lisaly and knew his old reasons wouldn’t suffice.

 

 

Silas: …She was my wife. Even if it was all based on a lie, our love was true. Tinira turned me, fully aware of what I was and let me live with Lisaly’s death even though it wasn’t my fault.

 

 

Silas: I… I can no longer say that I wish to avenge Lisaly, because her death was one of ignorance. It wasn’t in spite nor was it planned. However… Tinira’s actions afterwards… I cannot let them stand.

 

Neila: So this plot of revenge is of your own doing because of how you were treated?

 

Silas: I’ve devoted centuries to a plot that was false… I’m not going to back off now when the end is in sight.

 

 

Silas: Now answer me, what was Mede to you?

 

Neila: *shakes head* I nursed him from when the moment he was born… He was like… I don’t know how to properly explain it.

 

 

Neila: He was more than just the Emperor to me. We were closer than friends. He was closer than a brother, than a lover…

 

Silas: You were in love.

 

 

Neila looked away.

 

Neila: I never thought it would happen. Me, “the Light’s Embrace,” the bane of the Dark Brotherhood and vampires alike throughout the Empire… In love. Laughable.

 

 

Silas thought back to when Liri divulged her feelings towards him and frowned at Neila’s words.

 

Silas: No. It’s not. Everyone falls in love with something or someone. As long as you can feel, this fact will never change.

 

 

Neila: But does it have to be so hard?

 

Silas: *sigh* It’s because you cared for him so much. And although he was taken from you, no one can ever take away your feelings for him.

 

 

Neila: *smiles* I forgot how kind you could be when you weren’t slutting yourself out or having a 24/7 pity party for yourself.

 

Silas: HEY! I never ‘slutted’ myself out—

 

 

Neila: Just ten years ago between the months of Rain's Hand and Sun's Height, how many women did you suck or fuck?

 

Silas: What year is this, 4E 203? So that would be…

 

 

Silas: Wait, how the fuck would YOU know!?

 

Neila: Your method was always the same. Get close with distraught, beautiful, smart women and use your… ‘charms’ on them. If you felt ANYTHING for them…

 

 

Neila: They’d get away with naught but a bite and the memory of being attacked by some beast. But if they were simply a one night stand to you—

 

Silas: Okay, seriously, what the fuck?! Why do you know all this?

 

Neila: Other than your worries about your Clan leaving your mind to be an open book?

 

 

Neila: Far too many tales like that kept popping up. The Empire ended up getting on the case, but since both Sybille and I knew it was you, it never went anywhere.

 

 

Silas: *sigh* Is there a vampire you DON’T know?

 

Neila: Personally? Plenty. However, to ensure the safety and integrity of the Emperor, the Empire and her people—

 

 

Neila: Why have we stopped?

 

Silas: Because we’re here.

 

Neila looked around and all she saw was an unattended graveyard.

 

Neila: Feels like a scene from an old Jonquilla Bothe novel.

 

 

???: So… Your brought her, Silas? Don’t you know she wants to kill me!

 

Silas and Neila looked around, but Rosalie wasn’t in sight.

 

Silas: I know, but the situation has changed—

 

 

Rosalie(?): NOTHING HAS CHANGED! That nickname of hers, the ‘Light’s Embrace’, I asked Darius about it… For what I did… She’s going to kill me and everyone I love!

 

 

Rosalie(?): And YOU brought her to me, Silas! I thought I was like a sister to you! But I see how it is… You want me dead now too… They got to you when we left your manor—

 

 

Silas: Relax Rosalie! No one ‘got’ to me! I’m still me, and you’re still like a sister to me—

 

Rosalie appeared from where she was hiding.

 

Rosalie: THEN WHY IS SHE HERE!

 

 

Neila: You must have seen us coming. I’m surprised you stuck around considering what you know I’ll do to someone like you.

 

Rosalie: If it meant protecting the ones I loved, I’d go to any lengths!

 

 

Rosalie: I thought you were the same, Silas…

 

Silas: (The ‘Light’s Embrace’…) You said that Darius told you about her, correct?

 

Rosalie: Yeah! She’s a cruel bitch of a vampire that hunts her own kind!

 

Silas: You’re right, and yet here you are, alive. Neither your husband nor you with a scratch on you due to her. Why is that?

 

Rosalie: Because she hasn’t been able to find us until now—

 

 

Silas: I don’t know, Rose. Neila has made it her personal duty to know the whereabouts and on goings of any and all vampires that may threaten the Empire. So I don’t think that your home in Whiterun—

 

 

Neila: Ivarstead. They moved a little after you were detained by Tinira.

 

The look of shock on Rosalie’s face confounded Neila.

 

Neila: What? Was that move of yours supposed to hide you from Foran… Or from me?

 

 

Rosalie: W-why haven’t you done anything yet!?! *draws her dagger* I-I’ll… What’s going on Silas!?

 

Silas: *sigh* I knew it… You can relax, Rose. Neila’s not going to kill you. Not now, not ever.

 

 

Neila: *glares* The hell I’m not! After this is over—

 

Silas: You’ll have to go back and be the Hand of the next Emperor. And Rosalie will live out her days peacefully with her husband. I know you, N.

 

 

Silas: If the ‘Light’s Embrace’ was ever truly going to kill you, you wouldn’t have escaped from the ship you killed Mede on, Rose. Neila isn’t one to drag things on like this.

 

 

Neila: *blushes* N-no! I-I’m going to—

 

Silas: *sigh* Mede told you not to kill Rosalie, didn’t he? See Rose, Neila lives by a code of honor that forbids her to go against the wishes of the Emperor. Whether or not said Emperor is alive to see his will carried out.

 

 

Rosalie: Wait… Are you serious? You’re joking… I’ve been worried about Bishop and me for nothing! *drops weapon* I… I was so worried… I was so worried that—

 

 

Silas swooped Rosalie up into a hug, causing her to forget her train of thought.

 

Silas: You fucking munchkin! Where in Oblivion did you go!

 

Rosalie: You did NOT just call me a—

 

 

Silas: We were… Everyone… I was so worried about you. I won’t read your mind, but I can tell that something was… Something is distressing you. Why didn’t you go to Bishop? Or Darius? Or ME?

 

Rosalie blinked.

 

Rosalie: (Nobody told me that Silas was THIS worried about me… I… Wow…)

 

Not knowing how to respond, she took a deep breath and relaxed in his arms…

 

 

Rosalie: This smell… You had a sweetroll earlier didn’t you?

 

Silas: Heh, I forgot that you were a fiend for those. Yeah, Liri made some for—

 

 

Rosalie pushed Silas away and glared at him.

 

Rosalie: Liri!? That nude woman that tried to kill you? So that’s the other scent I smelled.

 

Neila: I’d imagine, seeing as they’re a ‘thing’ now.

 

 

Rosalie’s eyes widened.

 

Rosalie: But… But she literally tried to kill you! How could you trust her after that?

 

Silas: You don’t know the whole story, besides… You’re in no position to talk.

 

 

Silas: Remember how we met?

 

Rosalie: That was different.

 

Silas: Right… Anyway, although I want to know where you were, I’m not going to rush you. And as much as I want to give you a beating…

 

 

Silas: *sigh* I’m just happy you’re back, and safe.

 

Rosalie: Look, I know you said that I’m like a sister to you, and that’s… KINDA flattering, but I’m a big girl. And I can take care of myself.

 

 

Neila gave Rosalie a snide look and smirked.

 

Neila: So he doesn’t know… What you can do? What. You. Are.

 

 

Rosalie: H-how do you—

 

Neila: Unlike you all, it is my job to know everything about whomever it is I am talking to. Therefore, I don’t care about invading your thoughts all a whim. Just know this…

 

Neila: I’ve seen vamps like you come and go, doppelganger. If you don’t want to be devoured again by yourself, by your powers, you’ve got to have something to anchor you to who you are.

 

 

She looked at Silas after saying that last part.

 

Silas: Right… Anyway, I think we ought to head back. Everyone’s waiting for us—

 

Rosalie: I never said I was coming with you.

 

 

Silas: A-aren’t you though?

 

Rosalie: It’s been two weeks since I’ve returned! I’ve got so much to do, like—

 

Silas: *smirk* Having your way with your husband, or vice versa?

 

 

Neila couldn’t contain her laughter.

 

Neila: So this is how you treat women you really care about. It’s like he’s a kind and caring asshole.

 

Silas: Eh, my immaculate level of humor is lost on the old…

 

 

Silas: And the young.

 

Rosalie: No wonder you like that nudist, you’re both MADE for each other!

 

 

???: I believe it’s time for you all to stop your squabbling and realize that those are the last words you’ll ever breathe in this lifetime.

 

 

The trio looked over and saw a vampire with a confident smirk on its face.

 

Silas: Well if it isn’t Feran. I heard from my lady that you didn’t treat her right. Guess I’ll have to return the favor.

 

 

Neila grabbed Silas and shook her head.

 

Neila: He’s not the same lowly vampire that you once knew. Take caution with him.

 

Silas: I know…

 

 

Silas: Take Rosalie and get out of here!

 

Neila: But together we can—

 

Silas: Solitude has been under my Clan’s thumb for centuries. Nothing will happen to me, but if you two go against them…

 

Silas: I won’t be able to protect you.

 

Rosalie: Who says we need your protection?

 

Silas: I DO! Look, I can tell you’re stronger than you once were, but this isn’t a matter of pride! It’s a matter of fact!

 

 

Silas: I’ll not let anyone close to me die ever again… SO GO! NOW!!

 

Neila grabbed Rosalie by the wrist and ran off.

 

Silas: Now then, seems like we can get down to business.

 

 

Feran: That was both smart and foolish, False Head. Indeed you wouldn’t be able to protect them from my associate and I, but now… Who’s to say they can handle him two-on-one?

 

 

Silas: Like I’ll let that happen.

 

Feran: *smirks* Like you have a choice. Go, now.

 

 

Silas felt a rush of wind blow past him in the direction of Rosalie and Neila.

 

Silas: (Shit! I’ve got to go—)

 

 

Feran immediately blocked his path.

 

Feran: Ah ah ah! You want to help them, you’ll have to go through me.

 

He took a sip from a goblet…

 

 

…And wiped the spilt blood from around his mouth.

 

Feran: Ahh… And I don’t think a gassed vamp like you on its last leg can handle me. Not any longer.

 

 

Silas conjured a sword that would have burned him him at the touch if it weren’t for his gloves.

 

Feran: Afraid to go all out against me, boy?

 

Silas: *shakes head* You’re not worth it. Besides…

 

 

Silas: I made a promise to my lady, and I’m not going to break it for the likes of you!

 

 

Feran: You must be desperate if you’re using THAT sword. *smirks* Alright, False Head. I’ll play with you for a while, until you end up boring me as your kind always has… Mutt.

 

Rosalie broke free of Neila’s grasp and stopped on the spot.

 

Rosalie: What got into you!? Why did we leave Silas there all alone? We could have handled that bastard three on one!

 

 

Neila: Before I go back with the Empire, I’m going to train you not to be so ignorant of the world around you.

 

Rosalie: *glares* What’s that supposed to mean?

 

 

Neila: First off, and I know Silas will hate me for this, but Silas hasn’t been the same since you attacked him with that sunlight enchanted dagger during your first encounter with him.

 

 

Rosalie: Please! Have you SEEN him? He’s never been better!

 

Neila shook her head and began walking off.

 

Rosalie: Wait! What’s that supposed to mean? Hey stop!

 

 

Rosalie caught up with Neila and turned her around.

 

Rosalie: What’s going on with him? What did I do?

 

Neila: You intended to kill him on your first meeting, did you not?

 

Rosalie: I did…

 

 

Neila: And even after stabbing him with your dagger center mass, he’s still alive. But barely.

 

Rosalie: But he seems fine—

 

Neila: He has sunlight poisoning, the same thing that killed his wife.

 

 

Neila: It’s ruined his regeneration capabilities to those barely above a human’s. It’s also made him considerably weaker than he once was.

 

Rosalie: You’re lying!

 

 

Neila shook her head.

 

Neila: Not only that, it’s also caused him to lose partial control of his Vampire Lord form, although he likes to lie about that in order to hide his weakness.

 

 

Rosalie: What… What have I done… Why did we leave him!!

 

 

A gust of wind blew past the duo, and Neila felt the hairs on her neck stand tall.

 

Neila: Because, there’s no way a weakened Silas could help against a monster like that!

 

Rosalie: Is that what I think it is?

 

Neila: A Xivilai, powerful Daedric bastards that are resistant to fire and have the ability to significantly absorb spells.

 

 

Rosalie: (Is there anything she DOESN’T know?)

 

Neila: I’ll never see what Harkon’s brother saw in a pathetic girl like you all those years ago.

 

 

Rosalie glared at Neila, making her smirk.

 

Rosalie: You bitch…

 

Neila: You’re so easy to provoke, small one.

 

Rosalie: YOU’RE THE SAME HEIGHT AS ME—

                                                       

 

Neila tackled Rosalie just in time to prevent them both being smashed by the Xivilai’s giant mace.

 

Neila: You alright?

 

 

Rosalie: (Other than being thrown for a loop after having the woman who threatened my life just save me, I’m swell—)

 

Neila: Good. *stands* Now get up and help me fight!

 

Rosalie: (Sure…)

 

 

Rosalie: (This is all messed up. Me fighting alongside Neila?) *sigh* What have you gotten me into Silas…

 

 

The Xivilai moved quite quickly for its size, going after who it sensed to be the more troubling of the two, Neila. The vampire narrowly dodged the Daedra’s attacks…

 

 

But soon realized that was all she was going to be able to do.

 

Neila: Do something! You fucking failure!

 

 

Rosalie: (I shouldn’t help you, but I hate owing people…)

 

Rosalie attacked the Xivilai from behind giving Neila an opening to finally go on the offensive.

 

 

However, this offensive surge was quickly nullified as the Daedra caught Neila by the neck, and slammed her into the ground.

 

Neila could barely breathe as the injuries sustained against Silas began acting up again, and she couldn’t feel any strength coming from her limbs.

 

Neila: Shit…

 

 

The Xivilai raised its weapon above its head and glared down at Neila.

 

Neila: (So is this how it ends? Saving my doppelganger only to die in the process… This… *sigh* So it goes…)

 

 

Neila closed her eyes expecting to meet her end…

 

 

But instead felt herself being rolled around after something enveloped her, evading the blow’s impact in the process.

 

 

Neila opened her eyes and saw Rosalie above her with a smile on her face.

 

Neila: A-are you out of your mind?

 

Rosalie: I hate owing people anything, besides know-it-all…

 

 

Rosalie bit her lip and blood dropped onto Neila’s mouth.

 

Rosalie: If you know everything, then you know you’re our best chance to beat this fucker… Since I can’t use certain spells.

 

 

With her strength returning, Neila pushed Rosalie off of her and rolled just in time for both of them to avoid getting hit by the Xivilai.

 

 

Neila: (Dammit all…) I swear when this is all over, I’m going to kill you… But first…

 

Neila gathered a ball of sparks in her hand and smirked at the Xivilai.

 

Neila: Time to die, Daedra!

 

 

Neila flung her spell, which increased in size as it traveled, at the approaching Xivilai…

 

 

And upon impact the Daedra, who had been engulfed in lighting, tried it’s best to fend off Neila’s attack, but a swift lightening beam from ‘The Light’s Embrace’ finished it off for good…

 

Feran: What’s wrong, Fake Head? Having trouble against ‘pathetic’ old me?

 

 

Feran slowly walked towards Silas who seemed to be having trouble standing.

 

Feran: Most of the high blood vampires knew that you’d weakened, but they’d never assume you were THIS weak.

 

 

Feran: Not with how you’ve been rampaging around in your Vampire Lord form.

 

Silas: Yeah well… It’s not like you could kill me if you tried, so I don’t mind being a punching bag for the time being…

 

 

Feran’s face scrunched up.

 

Feran: This is why you Volstikar’s are and have always been lesser than we Volkihar. Hopefully once Lord Harkon binds our clans through marriage…

 

 

Feran: He will cull that whore from our ranks and show all of Nirn who truly owns the night!

 

Silas: …Feran, you’re proud of what you are… *cough* Aren’t you?

 

 

Feran: *smirks* Why wouldn’t I be? I serve the most powerful vampire in all of Nirn, I have power inconceivable to mortals, and after I kill you, I myself will obtain the form of Vampire Lord.

 

 

Silas stood up straight and shook his head.

 

Silas: …Is that it?

 

Feran: Do I need more?

 

Silas: If you had more, then maybe you’d have actually stood a chance against me. Goodbye Feran.

 

 

Silas snapped his fingers, and for a single second Feran saw Silas’s blade in front of his face before it pierced the Dunmer’s head in twine.

 

 

???: My my… To think you knew a hallucination spell that would work on the likes of Feran Sadri. I never knew you were THIS dangerous, Silas. But I guess love HAS always made you reach deeper—

 

 

Silas: You followed me here Tinira? But I felt your presence at Azsanwess’s home.

 

Tinira: I was there, and now I’m here. I must say, your little ‘clan’ is growing rather nicely.

 

Silas: Are you here to fight?

 

Tinira shook her head and Silas sheathed his sword.

 

Tinira: I’m impressed. To think you didn’t try to strike me down. Seems as though the truth has enlightened—

 

 

Silas: Why didn’t you just come clean to me? Why did you torment me so? Why did you make me live with Lisaly’s death for all this time?

 

Tinira: Who knows. Perhaps I was just bored—

 

 

Silas: I know EVERYTHING. I just want to hear it from you. She said you loved me, then why would you do any of this to me?

 

Tinira’s smile changed to a frown, and Silas knew he’d finally get the truth.

 

 

Tinira: She REALLY doesn’t know how to hold back huh? *sigh* You must have felt it, Nero returning? He told me to make you into a ‘worthy’ replacement for him until the time when he returned.

 

 

Silas: But I didn’t DO anything as the Head!

 

Tinira: Exactly. He wanted everyone to know that we had power, but didn’t want them to think we’d utilize it for anything worthwhile.

 

 

Tinira: Our clan had to be… Something of a looming bull, threatening but otherwise harmless unless provoked. Your disdain towards our kind help with just that.

 

 

Silas: If I had truly killed Nero, would we be where we are today?

 

Tinira: *smiles* If you COULD have killed Nero… Then perhaps… *sigh* Who knows, but one can dream, right? Anyway…

 

 

Tinira: It was nice to finally be able to talk to the real you, not the one molded by lies and hate.

 

Silas: It wasn’t unpleasant talking to the less bitchy version of you either. Even so—

 

 

Tinira: I know. Next time we meet, it won’t be nearly this pleasant.

 

Silas: I… I could consider—

 

Tinira: *shakes head* I’ve deserved death way before what I did to Lisaly and you.

 

 

Tinira: In fact, if I hadn’t had my father get one of his vampire associates, Nero, to turn me, I know for a fact that someone serving me in my past life would have given me an untimely end.

 

Silas: I see… You’re bound to him…

 

Tinira: As you are to me.

 

Silas: Then if I kill him—

 

Tinira: You just don’t get it. If you kill Nero, who controls Foran? Who puts Harkon in check?

 

 

Tinira: The deck is stacked against you, and I’m not one to fight fate. Nero and Harkon are going to win.

 

Silas: And you’ve simply given up without trying?

 

Tinira: Who knows…

 

 

Tinira: There WAS this one guy I thought could help… But every time I’ve met him recently he looks worse and worse for wear. At the climax of this all, I don’t even think he’ll show up at this rate.

 

 

Silas: I’m no longer a knight.

 

Tinira: And I’m no longer a noble.

 

Silas: …We shouldn’t have talked.

 

Tinira: Why? Because it’s going to be hard for you to kill me now?

 

Silas: No, that’s not—

 

 

Tinira: Because that’s how I feel now…

 

Tinira opened up a portal at her feet and vanished, leaving a sour taste in Silas’s mouth.

 

 

Silas: (Nero was behind everything… So I’ve just got to kill him, Harkon, and Foran and everything will sort itself—)

 

 

Silas heard a twig snap and threw his blade hard in its direction. He laughed inwardly after hearing the sound of a body collapsing to the floor.

 

 

Silas took one step towards the corpse and sucked his teeth.

 

Silas: Vampire… Must have been a spy… (You owe me big time Tinira. And I’m definitely going to—)

 

 

???: [Hey? This this is transmitting properly right? Testing one, two…]

 

Silas: (This voice!) I-Innis?

 

???: [Nice! I got him! Anyway, Foran showed up and attacked soon after you left.]

 

 

Innis: [‘Wess got us out of there, but we can’t go back…]

 

Silas: Where are you now?

 

Innis: [Her lab.]

 

Silas: I know where that is. I’ll meet up with Neila and Rosalie and we’ll be on the way.