Elizabeth: No! We can’t just wait here forever!

Elizabeth curls her fists, burrowing grooves into the palm of her gauntlet. She grumbles beside Erinye, grinding her teeth in frustration. Everything in Windhelm went perfectly. Castalia died, hundreds were killed, and now Null is filled. They each knew it would cause some reaction from Isabel, but what they did not expect was a gargantuan shield to suddenly project around her, preventing them from getting close.

Erinye: Relax. She can’t keep that up forever.

Erinye responds calmly as her sister’s teeth begin to scrape louder. It still surprises her that she is the more levelheaded of the two. One would think a daedra would be more impulsive. Though being trapped in a black void for hundreds of years is certain to thin one’s patience.

Elizabeth: Well we don’t have forever! If father doesn’t get Nirn, we’ll never join together again! Every second the other daedra are gaining more and more worshippers!

Erinye expels a tense breath, relieving the strain in her shoulders.

Erinye: Relax. We have a guaranteed way through.

Erinye: Castalia was smart. She knew we needed a martyr who’d be chased beyond the ends of the earth.

Erinye grins mischievously as faint whoosh echoes behind them. As she turns around, her eyes flicker with glee.

Elizabeth: Okay? So they’re coming to reach her too! We have to get there first!

Erinye: No, dear sister.

Erinye: We aren’t going to beat them to her.

Erinye: He’ll take us to her instead.

Inside the palace, Ulfric leads the others through the barracks. During the battle, the wounded were hustled below into the prisons with the civilians. Now that the defense has ended, he is eager to help them out of the damp confines and into the fresh air.

As they march, sparse conversation fills the room. Though the relief of their victory puts them at ease, the celebration is yet to invigorate them. If it even could.

The harrowing battle through the night has sapped their strength. What reserves they have left is barely enough to drag their feet. It’s difficult to stay awake, and there’s no pressure to remain alert.

Or so they think.

The soft pat of a bare foot quietly slaps the stone floor. It blends smoothly into the cacophony of thuds from the other’s boots. Weary, muffled senses would never pick it up normally, but for Davey…

Davey: What was that?

Mike: Davey? What’s wrong?

Davey whips around, sucking in a stunned gasp.

Davey: We’re under attack!

Elizabeth: Well well well…

Talen’s eyes widen in shock as they fly open alongside a frantic inhale. He pats his chest. He felt the pain of the dagger for but a moment before everything went black. Now there’s no indication it even happened.

His eyes dart around, trying to adjust the pitch darkness enveloping him. Then he realizes it isn’t dark at all. There’s just little to actually see. His eyes pan to the massive, purple sphere swirling around Isabel. His wife. His heart skips a beat as his instincts try to yank in in her direction. He nearly lurches into a sprint until he sees the two figures intercepting him.

Elizabeth: Huh, you were right, sister.

Talen staggers to his feet. The more humanoid of the two women begins to saunter toward him, hands placed pretentiously on her hips. He can’t place it, but there’s something familiar about them both.

Elizabeth: Her little man comes to the rescue.

She snickers as she derides him, unphased as he draws his axe.

Erinye: They are bound to one another. Even in death, he’d come to her. Unlike the other souls.

Talen: Get away from her.

He tightens his hold on the axe. It feels weightless here, as does he. He isn’t sure if it’s his nerves, or that he’s dead.

Elizabeth laughs, mockingly.

Elizabeth: Cute. But that axe isn’t going to help you.

Talen grimaces, overwhelmed by her confidence. There’s no chance he can get past her. Or contend long in a fight. Will he even last long enough for Taeyva to arrive? He gulps, trying to swallow his doubts.

Talen: We’ll see.

He raises his axe, bracing for whatever attack comes, as he glues his sight onto her.

Then he blinks.

Talen: Gah!

Elizabeth vanishes in a burst of speed before suddenly appearing in front of him as she rams her knee forward. Talen’s armor caves in, pummeling his stomach as the blow thrusts him into the air.

His vision swirls before he crashes onto the floor. Through squinted eyes and ringing ears, he barely perceives Elizabeth calmly swaying closer.

Elizabeth: I’ll keep it up as long as I need to. Your wife is going to let us inside. Understand?

Talen kicks the ground in desperation, frantically trying to retreat.

Talen: Never. Never!

Elizabeth: I heard you were stubborn. Oh well. What should I break next, then?

?: Don’t even think about it.

Erinye: Look out!

Elizabeth: What the-

Elizabeth freezes in her tracks as her eyes flare in dismay. She blindly swings her arm behind her, desperately, before an audible slash slams into her back.

Elizabeth: Argh!

Talen scrambles away, dumbfounded at what he’s seeing. Castalia?

Elizabeth manages to catch herself, crashing onto all fours. She hisses, lividly, as her fingers scrape the ground. Talen manages to clamber to his feet, gawking between her and Castalia.

Castalia: Talen, are you okay?

Talen: Um, I-I think so… I thought y-

She quickly interjects, cutting off his incoherent stammering.

Castalia: Good. Get to your wife. Now. I’ll hold her off.

Talen pauses, his stare falling to the daedra behind them, a spear now being brandished in her grip.

Talen: Um… What about her?

Castalia nods, assuredly, never taking her eyes off Elizabeth.

Castalia: Don’t worry.

Castalia: Taeyva can handle her.

Erinye’s lips curl at the presence that materialized behind her. The aura given off by two souls is unmistakable. Especially when the more potent of the two is at the forefront. She scoffs.

Erinye: Even together, you don’t stand a chance against me. Prophet.

Taeyva smirks, thriving with a particular hubris that only comes out when her daedric soul takes control.

Taeyva: Heh. You sound jealous. Come on, severed. Let’s fight!

Falmer: Grraaaaaaah!!

The horde of falmer swarm the upper barracks, rapidly seizing the room with their overwhelming numbers. Though Davey’s warning may have thwarted their ambush, the falmer easily tear into the weak defense they were barely able to muster.

Celann: Back! Back!

Outnumbered and exhausted, Windhelm’s last defenders somehow hold the initial tide back. Only a short corridor behind them leads to the prisons below, sheltering the citizens. There may be guards there to protect them, but there’s a reason they weren’t stationed with the troops above. Only one falmer needs to breach their line for there to be a massacre.

Falmer: Hsssss!

Mike: Shit!

Dennis: No! Die!

Ulfric: Don’t let any of them past us!

Davey twirls his axe, panting, as he yanks it from a falmer’s now bloody chest. As it collapses onto the floor, he stumbles away, fatigue sapping his stability.

His limbs feel heavy. Every movement is sluggish and forced. Yet the adrenaline pumping through him drags him through the pain. He cuts down every falmer that approaches, as if he were a puppet on strings.

Davey: Fuck you!

His axe crashes into another one, gouging into its chest. He doesn’t even fully comprehend it until he hears the audible snap of its ribcage. It collapses somewhere to his left with a final groan. Davey is quick to lurch around, ready for another attack, to realize a path has formed from him to the opposite doorway. At the end of it, angling his sword towards him, stands Malkor.

He tilts his head, narrowing his cold, emotionless eyes as Davey notices him. Davey squares off against him, bracing to acknowledge his challenge.

Davey doesn’t have to guess why Malkor betrayed them. There’s nothing behind that empty expression. He’s far past dead inside. But even with nothing left to lose, he won’t completely throw away his ideals. Even now, at the end of the world,…

…he will give them a fair fight.

Castalia: Just run, Talen!

Castalia: Once you’re behind the portal, you’re safe. Got it?

Talen exhales to calm the hammering in his chest.

Talen: R-right! Got it!

Elizabeth: You won’t stand in our way, Castalia!

Elizabeth lugs a curled fist at Castalia, who effortlessly skips out of the way. As she does, Castalia twists around, using the momentum to slash outwards with her sword.

Elizabeth rapidly falls back, angling almost parallel to the ground, as the blade soars over her head.

Castalia: Now!

Talen doesn’t skip a beat. As Castalia forces the pressure against Elizabeth, he rushes past them both. He locks his gaze onto Isabel, who he can now see screaming out to him.

Talen: I’m coming, Isabel!

Elizabeth: Why you!

Isabel: Talen! Talen, hurry!

Castalia: Gah!

Castalia attempts to draw back her sword for another strike, when Elizabeth springs up, uncannily maintaining her balance from her precarious dodge. As she does, her knee fires upwards, cracking into Castalia’s jaw.

She stumbles back, her ears ringing from the blow as her head pulses with a throbbing pain. She raises her arm defensively, anticipating another hit, as she manages to open one eye with a grimace. 

Castalia: Shit.

Elizabeth: You’re not getting in there!

Talen: Uh! Castalia!

Talen cries out in a panic as Elizabeth rapidly gains on him. His eyes dart between her and Isabel, frantically, before noticing Taeyva dueling Erinye ahead of him. His heart sinks when he then realizes Taeyva can’t help him now either.

Erinye: Hrah!

Taeyva holds a staunch fist, maintaining the similar golden shield she used against the centurion earlier. Though back then she appeared much more in control of the situation.

Erinye strikes repeatedly against the field. A shower of sparks scatter into the air as ripples arc across the surface with each blow.

Erinye doesn’t give her a moment to breath. After striking with the end of her spear, she flips it over at the same time of drawing it back, sending the flail on the opposite end slamming downwards. Then, just as it bounces back, her spear is poised to strike again.

With every impact, the shield flickers and Taeyva crouches lower and lower, desperately trying to maintain her concentration.

Taeyva: Grrrr. Damn it!

Castalia shakes her head, picking herself up as the ringing subsides. Her vision comes into focus on Elizabeth, only inches away from snagging Talen in her clutches. She can’t let that happen.

Castalia: No!

Elizabeth: Whaa-

Castalia lunges forward, plowing into Elizabeth and knocking her off her feet.

Talen laughs in relief and amazement as he hears them crash onto the ground behind him. He keeps his sight glued to Isabel as she too smiles in disbelief.

Isabel: Yes! Yes, Talen! Come on!

Talen: Haha! I’m coming, Isabel! I’m-

But an ear splitting shatter wipes their glee away with a gasp.

Taeyva: Aagh!

Erinye rams her knee through Taeyva’s barrier, exploding it into a barrage of magical shards. Taeyva’s scream barely scrapes Talen’s ears, drowned out by the shriek of fracturing glass.

Talen falters as Taeyva bounce across the ground, sliding to a stop with a groan. Erinye will finish her off if he doesn’t do something. Right? No? He gapes at her, stricken with indecision. But then Erinye turns her attention away. As her eyes lock onto Talen’s, he makes up his mind, lurching back into a sprint.

Erinye: Oh no you don’t.

In a sudden flash, Erinye materializes in front of him, intercepting his path. He yelps in alarm before getting choked off by her cold grip, coiling around his neck.

Erinye: You really thought you’d just walk right in? After all I’ve done? No no no. You don’t deserve this power.

Erinye: It’s mine! Mine alone! And you’re the key to making sure of that.

Elisif: What’s going on?

The crowd beneath the palace shudders as their attention turns to the prison entrance. Clashing steel and gruesome shrieks rebound off the stone walls and into the chamber housing them. Elisif and Jorlief are the first to approach the hall, hesitantly, as the two guards flanking them draw their weapons.

Jorleif shakes his head in despair, releasing what hope he had left with a sigh.

Jorleif: They’ve invaded the palace… It’s only a matter of time before they reach us.

Though he muttered only a whisper, his words reach the ears of his people behind him. Soft whimpers, pleading prayers, and refusing murmurs emulsify into a cacophony of hopelessness as panic rapidly spreads throughout the room.

Elisif gulps, focusing ahead to ignore the gloom festering behind her.

Elisif: We… We can help. Right? Can we? I… I don’t-

She cuts off as a scream resounds from the stairs above, no more than a few feet away. A series of thuds and flops follow before a stormcloak’s corpse lands at their feet.

A feeble, incomprehensible moan escapes him as he raises a shivering hand towards them. They freeze, terrified with indecision. Then his eyes roll back into his head as his arm falls, splashing into a puddle of spreading blood.

Stormcloak: Oh gods… They’re here.

Their stricken gazes slowly turn away from the body and to the dull patter of approaching footsteps.

Isabel feels so helpless. This entire realm, overflowing with souls, is hers. She can scour the infinite reaches of this void to find whoever she wants. By her will alone unimaginable power can be granted to anyone at the cost of those trapped to this eternity. Yet she’s powerless to claim it herself. By oblivion, she can’t even free herself from these ropes.

Five years. Five years to resign herself to this fate. In the beginning, there was nothing but confusion and horror. The sisters never informed her of the role she had to play. Erinye was never around, and all Elizabeth did was keep Isabel sealed away.

Then the souls started coming in.

It felt as if she were being drowned. A flood of memories poured through her mind with each soul that died. It was hundreds, then thousands, as the world froze over, and war erupted. Isabel never needed the sisters to explain what was going on outside. She knew it all already. She knew everything.

It wasn’t long after that she discovered she could reach out to these souls. Speaking to them was as simple as thinking. Like she was day dreaming when she was a child. Her eyes would close to nothing but the same and open to see those of another. They were often wet with tears or wide in shock. A few were angry, most were fearful. And they all were lost.

She never revealed to any of them that she shared their memories. That would be a betrayal. In Null, they have nothing. Yourself is all that can be clung to. Funny thing is those memories weren’t really needed. Even knowing their stories ending, the way they smiled when recalling them gave Isabel more insight into who they are than their memories ever could.

 It was bittersweet, she thought. This was not the afterlife she expected, but the thousands of souls inside of her are thousands of lifetimes to experience. With them she could find comfort in their mutual loss. This lasted until Castalia arrived.

She showed up unexpectedly, much to Elizabeth’s disdain. They were clearly reluctant allies and Elizabeth was unenthusiastic about Castalia’s request to see Isabel. But without Erinye to back her up, she had no choice but to comply.

Isabel still isn’t sure how she’d categorize Castalia. The dark elf was kinder to her. She apologized, though did not initially explain why. But she wasn’t trying to save Isabel. Despite her evident shame, she was here for her own reasons.

There was a contrite aura that always came off of her, though her body language displayed the opposite. Castalia would keep their discussions brief. It was only about what Isabel needed to know then and why. It was through these interactions that Isabel learned of her true purpose in this realm. Why she had all these memories and what it was that Erinye wanted from her. This realm is a cauldron, brewing these souls to the promise of infinite power. And Isabel is the only one who can grant it. Castalia also never kept it a secret that she was after this power as well.

This gained her Isabel’s trust. Enough so, that Isabel agreed to Castalia’s request to meet with the other souls.

It was something she discovered shortly after connecting with them. The void she resides in is different from the ones the souls occupy. With little more effect than a thought, she could pull those souls out and to her where Castalia could meet them. But it was quickly learned that only a few could exist here at a time. When Isabel tied taking one too many, it never showed up.

But that didn’t stop her from allowing Castalia to meet them. One at a time. It was strange at first. Castalia would ask unusually detailed questions, things that no one should rightfully know about. The souls were always startled, throwing back “how would you know that?” Sometimes fearfully, most of the time accusatorily. But she would just ask them the question again until she was able to write the answer down in a notebook.

This went on for a few years. Isabel wouldn’t say the two of them grew close. Neither would consider the other a friend. But a mutual hatred bonded them. Neither of them wished to see Erinye claim this power.

But then Castalia stopped coming. And then, weeks later, and just hours ago, her memories came instead.

Isabel: Come on… Think. Think. Think.

Isabel strains against her bonds, her eyes darting across the scene before her in panic.

Castalia continues her attack on Elizabeth, who barely blocks a blow to her neck. Though she’s clearly found the upper hand, she’ll never get to Talen in time.

And that other girl… Taeyva. Isabel barely knows who she is. She’s caught glimpses of her in memories and heard a few things from Castalia. But it’s hardly anything to go on.

Isabel huffs in frustration. She can probably only summon one more soul in here. There has to be someone who can help. Someone who knows Taeyva.

She closes her eyes, allowing the accumulated memories to rush through her mind. Just one person. Just- Isabel gasps.

This is him.

Taeyva pushes herself up, dazed. She squints open her eyes, trying to focus on the swaying, blurred figures in front of her.

Taeyva: Ugh. She’s strong.

Taeyva shakes her head, shutting her eyes once more to try and reset. Then, as she looks again, they widen with a gasp.

She gapes in dismay at a figure before her. Her eyes immediately begin to well as her head shakes in denial.

Taeyva: What? No… Y-You died?

Torund kneels before her. His shoulders sink when their eyes meet. With a despairing sigh, he nods solemnly.

Torund: I… I did. Taeyva, I’m so sorry. I failed you.

Taeyva fails to hold back a sob. She sniffles, shaking her head.

Taeyva: No. No! You… You saved me… I don’t… How do I…

Torund inches closer, extending his hand.

Torund: Hey. I was a despicable old man before all this. You gave me something to live for.

Torund: And now, something to die for.

Tears slip down her cheeks as Taeyva snivels a response.

Taeyva:  W-what do you mean?

Torund: You can’t beat her alone. But I’m not much help without my hammer. So take me instead. You already have two souls.

Torund: Why not one more?

Erinye: Make your choice, Isabel!

Erinye hurls Talen around by his neck so he faces Isabel. She tightens her grip, thrusting him forward as she jabs the tip of her spear against his back.

Erinye: If my spear kills him, you’ll never have his memories. He’ll be gone! All you have to do is let me in.

Talen: Don’t do i- Ack!

Erinye crushes Talen’s windpipe as he attempts to speak.

Erinye: Shut up.

She steps closer, dragging Talen’s feet across the ground as she lifts him in front of her. His attempts to struggle free are repelled by her clawed gauntlet, piercing the skin of his neck. Erinye halts directly before the barrier, shaking Talen like a doll to get Isabel’s attention. When she notices her eyes are closed, Erinye hisses with vexation.

Erinye: Pay attention, you fuckin bi-

She cuts off with a gasp as a sudden burst of movement flashes to their right.

Taeyva: Let go of him!

Erinye: Gah!

Erinye cries out as Taeyva slams into her, thrusting her away. Talen stumbles forward, stunned, as Erinye’s grip is knocked free.

Talen: Wha- Taeyva?

He blinks at her in disbelief. Two massive, wolf-like arms manifest over her own, glowing with a ghastly green. She doesn’t give Talen another glance, glaring lividly at Erinye as she retreats a few steps backwards.

Taeyva: Go to Isabel, Talen.

Taeyva: We’ll handle Erinye.

Elisif: Help!

Elisif trips over her heels as she retreats from the pale, bloodstained creature. Her feet sink into the dirt floor, now a wet sludge from the blood seeping from the bodies at the ate. The two guards were slaughtered instantly. Then Jorleif was slashed across the stomach. Screams and thuds echoed throughout the chamber as the citizens pounded and pried at the brick walls.

Elisif: Help! Please! Anyone!

She cries out with enough desperation to feel her lungs strain. She can barely discern the creature past her quivering hand as begin to fall. It’s going to kill her. It’s going to kill all of them. There’s nothing she can do.

Her cries break into a sob as she squeezes her eyes shut. They’ve lost…

?: Get back!

The gruesome crack of cleaved bones and a splatter of blood opens Elisif’s eyes as the screaming ceases. She catches the blur of the falmer collapsing onto the floor, but her stare locks to the man breathing heavily above it.

Elisif: You?

Ulfric glares at the corpse at his feet, lips curling into a snarl.

Ulfric: No one harms my people.

Ulfric: No one!

Davey: Hrah!

Davey doesn’t wait for Malkor take the initiate. He leaps forward, hurling his axe down as Malkor charges into him. Their weapons strike with a harsh clang as Malkor ducks low, raising his sword above his head to intercept the strike.

Davey: Don’t do this, Malkor! This isn’t right!

Davey’s cry meets ignorant ears. Malkor thrusts his arm upwards, knocking Davey’s axe away as he dashes backwards.

Davey: Fine! Graaah!

Davey launches himself forward, chasing after Malkor’s retreat. He hurls his axe around, swiping at his exposed chest. But Malkor sees it coming. He slams his left foot onto the ground, propelling his body away.

Davey’s attack swings wide, dragging his torso with it. He curses as Malkor capitalizes, leaping forward to slash at his vulnerable shoulder.

Malkor: Hrraaaaah!

With a sudden, desperate twist, Davey recovers his posture and positions his axe just over his shoulder as Malkor’s blade descends. The blow jars Davey’s grip as their weapons clash, unsteadying him. Malkor seems to notice and immediately yanks back his weapon. He doesn’t give Davey the chance to react, firing his right foot into the air.

Davey: Woah!

By either his fast instincts or a miraculous stroke of luck, Davey tilts to the side, barely dodging the blow to his head. As Malkor quickly retracts his leg, Davey rights himself in an instant, slashing at him as he attempts to reaffirm his footing.

But yet again, Malkor seems to find his balance immediately. He drops low in a blur, Davey’s attack sailing completely over him.

Davey: Shit.

Malkor springs upwards with a curled fist, straight into Davey’s jaw. The blow sends him sprawling into the air as Malkor screams with adrenaline.

Davey: Argh!

Malkor: GRAAAHH!

Davey crashes into the floor. His axe clatters out of reach. The sounds of the battle around him echo dimly inside his helmet behind Malkor’s maniacal cries. As he opens his eyes to see the sword descending towards him, he realizes he won’t even have time for a parting thought of her.

Elizabeth: Arggh!

Castalia repeatedly strikes Elizabeth, forcing her down with unrelenting blows to her face. The former prophet gasps for the chance to breath as her eyes squeeze in distress. As her arms fall limp, Castalia tosses her sword away. Wrapping both hands around her neck, Castalia throws Elizabeth onto her back, slamming her head against the ground.

Elizabeth: Ack!

Castalia’s fingers tighten, sealing her intake, as she puts all her weight into forcing Elizabeth down.

Castalia: I… I fucking hate you. To think you two can kill me. Use me!

Elizabeth: Uh-Ugh…

Castalia: You’ve ruined my chance at a real life! I hate you! I hate you! I…

Castalia pulls her hands free, stumbling back. Elizabeth lays before her, completely limp; her body motionless. She gulps, terrified at the flood of anger and fury that just came over her.

 

Castalia: Oh.

She pulls away, at a loss for words. As her attention drifts from Elizabeth, the reality of the situation rushes back to her.

Taeyva and Erinye are locked in a close duel as Talen rushes to Isabel. Erinye appears to be on the defensive as Taeyva releases a flurry of attacks with her claws. Behind them, Talen steps through the barrier with ease. He made it. Through all the odds and everything she threw against him, he actually reached her.

Castalia’s heart sinks. Is that it then? He finds his wife, acquires her power, and makes his wish? It seems so anticlimactic. Soon she’ll vanish from existence; taken as nothing more than just another soul in the pot. She wants to believe she deserves better than this but knows the truth. Her fate was sealed long ago. She sighs as her sinking heart tries to pull her to the ground.

Then Talen screams.

* * *

Talen: Isabel…

Talen stands in disbelief. He’s afraid to even blink. After five years of searching, he finally found her. Here, of all places. Every fiber in his being screams to run up and grab her, but a familiar dread holds him back. He’s learned how easily things can be torn away. He wants to smile and embrace her; hold her in his arms like he used to. But he understands, deep down, that such a reality will never be possible. Though he isn’t sure he can properly admit it. As the dread continues to wash over him, his hold of such a dream weakens. And as he stares into her eyes, he sees the same dread staring back.

Isabel: Oh, Talen… I wish this could be the reunion we wanted.

Her words flow out strained, like a river being forced through a funnel. She sighs, deeply, as she struggles to look away.

Isabel: You know you can’t bring me back, right?

Talen gapes at her, overwhelmed by his own sorrow and repudiation.

Talen: No. There has to be a way. I… All the souls here. It’s infinite power, right?

He takes an uneasy step forward, opening his arms in plea.

Talen: It can bring you back! I’ll use the power to make it so!

His voice breaks as he cries out. Isabel can only shake her head.

Isabel: You know it doesn’t work that way. Please, Talen. I don’t want to be here forever.

Isabel: I’ve been stuck here for too long. I want to leave. And I can do so peacefully if you take this power.

As Talen’s gaze falls, Isabel turns away.

Talen: Right… I guess I just…

He sighs.

Talen: I wanted things to return to normal. I clung to the chance we could have a life again.

Isabel: Me too, Talen. I wish that as well.

Her voice trails off as they share in a dismal silence. 

Isabel: All you have to do is touch me. One touch, and all this power is yours.

Talen nods, passively. Isabel ogles him, concerned he didn’t hear her. She tracks his creased stare, down to his stomach, where his hand has begun to clutch.

Isabel: Talen? What’s going on?

He hardly budges, blinking slowly as he begins to stiffen.

Talen: Ugh… I feel…

Then, all of a sudden, his eyes grow wide.

Talen: Wait…

Talen: AAAHHHH!

Talen double over abruptly, discharging a cry of pure agony as a hand suddenly sprouts from his chest.

Isabel: Talen!

Isabel shrieks, wildly tugging against her bonnds. She stares in helpless horror as the hand extends outwards, pressing against Talen’s hip. It pushes against him, dragging a shoulder, then a head, then a torso behind it.

An unhinged, shrewd cackle echoes through the void as the figure comes into shape. A psychotic flare sparks in his eyes as they lock onto Isabel.

Talen: AAAHHHHHHH!

Sheogorath: Hahahaha! Oooh, yes!

Sheogorath: I’m not known for patience, but this was well done. By me!

He takes his final step out of Talen, smirking with rabid glee. After he does, Talen hunches over, clutching his chest in horror.

Talen: How did… What? You just…

Sheogorath: I used ye as a ferry, my boy. Quite the bumpy ride! But I’m afraid I won’t need to take it again.

Before Talen can respond, Sheogorath spins around and hurls a fist into Talen.

Talen: Gah!

Isabel: No! Talen!

As Talen hits the floor, Sheogorath elegantly spins on his heels, throwing his arms wide.

Sheogorath: Marvelous! Just us now, my dear.

Isabel: No… No! Stay back!

He smirks at her pleas, casually sauntering closer.

Talen: You… bastard…

Talen forces himself up, his head pounding.

Talen: Don’t… Touch her!

Without a second thought, he grasps Sheogorath ankle, stopping him in his tracks. The daedric lord halts, craning his head around slowly as his lips curl in ire.

As their glares meet, Talen realizes his grip isn’t holding Sheogorath back at all. His own fury is.

Sheogorath: You dare lay a hand on me?

Sheogorath yanks his foot free with ease, immediately slamming it onto Talen’s wrist.

Talen: Aarrgh!

Sheogorath: I helped you! I saved your life! And this is how you repay me?

Sheogorath: You owe me this, you cretin! This belongs to me!

Isabel can’t bear to watch. Her head shakes, rejecting the scene before her.

Isabel: No… No no no…

Her voice breaks into a sob as tears begin to drip down her cheeks. This can’t be how it ends. It just c-

?: Isabel! Isabel!

A muffled voice breaks her out of the trance. Castalia pounds at the barrier, waving her arms and jumping in the air to get her attention.

Castalia: Isabel! You have to let me in! He’ll kill Talen and claim you! Please!

A tinge of hope fills Castalia as Isabel looks her way, though it doesn’t ease her anxiety. She ceases her pounding, pressing her fists firmly against the barrier.

Castalia: Look, I know this is my fault. I set you both on this path. There’s nothing I can do to earn your forgiveness.

Castalia: I have nothing to live for anymore. I’ve lost everything and wasted my life. But I can save his!

Castalia: Please trust me, Isabel. Let me inside.

Malkor: GRAAAHH!

Davey opens his eyes. Malkor’s sword hovers above him, trembling.

Davey: Huh?

Malkor looms over him, taking heavy, shaky breaths as his entire body trembles. Davey doesn’t dare budge and is hesitant to even speak. But Malkor speaks up before he can anyway.

Malkor: I owe her your life, don’t I?

Davey doesn’t respond, though Malkor doesn’t wait for an answer.

Malkor: You’ll kill me if I let you live. But she… she saved Cass. And I know she loves you.

Malkor: This pain… No one should feel this way. I have no choice. You know that, right? Cass was all I ever had. But I realized it too late. Promise me something?

Davey gulps, having difficulty looking Malkor in the eye with his sword hanging so close. But he nods, cautiously. He never knew Malkor. Not really. To anyone else, they’d think this way completely out of character. But the sorrow in his expression, the mercy of his blade, and the truth in his voice tells Davey the opposite.

This is him. A broken, lonely man, who never found his real place in the world. Forced to wear the only mask he was given. And now, finally, he understands what it’s like to take it off.

Malkor sighs, cracking what appears to be a relieved smile, though it hardly shows.

Malkor: Promise me you’ll run away with her. You’ll live in some hut in the woods. And I promise, I won’t come after you. Please?

Davey exhales slowly.

Davey: Okay. Okay, I… I promise.

A broken laugh escapes Malkor as the smile takes shape. He pulls his sword away, nodding with relief. But then, just as he takes a step back, it slips out his grip.

Malkor: Nngh… W-what?

His hand clutches his chest, over his heart, as he staggers away. His eyes widen in shock while his expression morphs from relief to terror.

Davey scoots back, bewildered. He has no idea what is going on until he hears a flop of a body behind him. Then another, and another. He looks past Malkor and watches as one by one, the falmer suddenly drop to the floor. He glances at his allies, keeping Malkor in his peripheral. All of them remain on their feet, just as shocked as him, gaping at the bodies that suddenly collapsed at their feet.

Malkor takes one final, unsteady step as he chokes out a final breath.

Malkor: Cass…

Before he finally falls.

Taeyva: Hrah!

Taeyva wildly slashes at Erinye, relentlessly pushing her back. Her instincts feel so alive and alert. It’s as if the claws themselves are controlling her movements. Every slash and strike escalates the pressure against Erinye, forcing her onto the defense. Though that doesn’t make things easy.

Erinye parries blow after blow, twirling her spear in front of her like a shield. The claws splinter and scrape against the wood, shaving parts of it into splinters. It’s sacrifice offers brief windows for Erinye to retaliate, but without using the spear, her attacks are weak.

Erinye hurls a desperate punch as Taeyva draws back for another strike. Taeyva immediately shifts tactics, dipping low to the wide as Erinye’s fist soars overhead.

She then springs forward, darting under Erinye’s still swinging arm, and carves her claws through her chest.

Erinye: Aarghhh!

Taeyva lurches forward, chasing Erinye as she tumbles backwards from the impact. Before her footing can be regained, Taeyva slashes once more, this aim at her head.

Erinye: Gah!

The blow sends her spinning. Her arms flail wide to frantically recover her balance, leaving her completely exposed. Taeyva snarls with adrenaline as she thrusts herself forward, her claws poised to strike.

The shriek of pierced metal precedes the crack of bone. Taeyva’s claws jut out to opposite end of Erinye’s torso, still.

Taeyva stares up at Erinye as her adrenaline fades. She isn’t even looking back at her. A mixture of astonishment and dismay plagues her expression, yet a smile begins to form.

Erinye lifts a trembling arm, over Taeyva’s shoulder, as she looks past her.

Erinye: Sister…

Erinye: We can finally be…

Erinye: Together…

The last word flees with her final breath. Taeyva tugs her arm free, allowing Erinye’s body to collapse.

She stands still for a moment. A sense of awareness envelops her. She nearly forgot the reason she is here. Then, as she turns and looks into the barrier, she remembers.

* * *

Sheogorath: Understand? This is mine! Mine! You cannot-

Castalia: No!

Sheogorath ceases his outcry as he whips around.

Sheogorath: What?

Talen’s body suddenly becomes stiff. His lower lip quivers as he stares ahead.

Talen: Wait…

Castalia stands below Isabel, her hand inches away from touching her. She stares directly into Talen’s eyes and breaths in deeply.

Castalia: Talen… I’m so, so sorry.

Talen: Wait… No, please…

Isabel: I love you, Talen.

Castalia: I hope you can forgive me.

Talen: ISABEL!

Taeyva: Talen!

Taeyva: Talen! Wake up!

Taeyva: Come on… Come on! Talen!

Talen’s eyes flutter open. He glances up at Taeyva, blinking slowly, as he responds, groggily.

Talen: T-Taeyva?

Taeyva exhales with a smile as relief spreads across her face.

Taeyva: Oh, thank goodness. Are you alright?

Talen groans as he pushes himself up. His presses his hand against his stomach, firmly. Nothing. No pain or throbbing; no signs of the wound. He awkwardly clears his throat as he realizes Taeyva is awaiting a response and nods.

Talen: Yeah… Yeah, I’m okay. What about everything else?

Taeyva glances at the door warily.

Taeyva: I don’t know. I don’t hear anything.

She turns back to him though with a dissatisfied huff, tugging Talen’s shoulder to face her.

Taeyva: Hey, seriously, that was intense. Isabel… I mean, you can’t just recover from that.

She stares deeply into his eyes. The aguish is evident in the way he stares back, but his expression remains rigid.

Talen sighs, succumbing with a solemn nod.

Talen: You’re right. We said our goodbyes and… I don’t think I’m ready to… to…

His voice breaks as a gentle sob overtakes him. Taeyva stays silent as it happens, unable to produce any meaningful statement. As he wipes away a tear, Taeyva picks herself up and extends a hand to him.

Taeyva: Take my hand, Talen. We’ll get through this.

Talen sniffles, nodding shakily. He accepts her invitation, grasping her hand tightly, as if it might disappear. She returns the firm grip with one of her own and hefts him onto his feet. As soon as they’re up, they simultaneously turn to face the door.

Talen wipes his nose as he adjusts his composure.

Talen: Do you think they’re still out there?

Taeyva: I don’t know. But it’s quiet.

She tiptoes to the door and carefully lays her hands against it, pressing her ear against the cold wood.

Talen: Well?

Taeyva rolls her eyes but doesn’t retort at his impatient remark. She listens intently, trying to discern any semblance of noise. But nothing comes.

Taeyva: I don’t hear anything. I’m going to open the door, okay? Be on your guard.

She steps back and grasps the handle. She glances back to Talen, who signals his readiness with a nod, and yanks the door open.

A sudden movement flashes at Taeyva’s feet. She stumbles back, startled, yet stifles the gasp as she notices the cause.

Taeyva: Ah-Oh… What?

They gawk at the falmer’s corpse that had flopped in front of them.

Talen: It’s dead.

Taeyva steps over it, leading them out into the main chamber. Their eyes widen in disbelief as they perceive the rest of the falmer, scattered all over the room. They take slow, deliberate steps, scanning the area in bewilderment. As they make their way further in, a door on the opposite end swings open.

Taeyva halts as a she beams at the figures ahead.

Taeyva: Hey! You’re okay!

Mike: Man, they really all died.

Dennis: Wow… I-

Davey: Taeyva!

Davey lurches into a sprint towards her. Dennis and Mike, startled at the sudden outburst, are quick to rush after him.

Taeyva throws her arms around Davey’s shoulders as he takes her by the waist, pulling her into his solace.

Davey: You’re safe. Believe me, I was so worried.

Taeyva: Me too, Davey. But it’s over. We’re safe now.

Mike: We didn’t know what happened. Malkor came in with his army and-

Dennis: Hey, Mike, lets not worry about that right now.

Mike: Oh. Uh, right. Well, everyone else is safe as well. They’re checking on the civilians now.

Taeyva: That’s a relief. I should get down there. Treat the wounded.

Davey: Just take a second, okay? You’ve been through a lot.

Dennis: Yeah, both of you have. You okay there, Talen?

Mike: Talen? You alright?

Davey: Talen?

* * *

Talen: ISABEL! ISA-Huh?

Talen cuts off. The barrier is gone. Sheogorath, Castalia, Taeyva… gone. What happened? These clothes… he wasn’t wearing these. How did-

Isabel: Talen?

Isabel approaches him, hesitantly. She cradles her arm as she bites her lip, ogling him as if he were a wounded animal.

Talen squeezes his eyes shut then opens them, not believing what he’s seeing.

Talen: Isabel?

Talen: Is that really you?

He gulps, afraid of what the answer will be. As a warm smile spreads over her lips, his heart skips a beat. Talen scrambles to his feet and throws his arms around her, pulling her in tightly as if she might escape.

Talen: Oh, Isabel. I’m so, so sorry… I love you. So much.

Isabel rests against his chest, squishing the cloth of Talen’s tunic in her fingers.

Isabel: I love you too, Talen. Always.

A tranquil silence blossoms as they hold one another. Talen feels his heartbeat slow as the two of them seem to float. The pressure that once held him down vanishes as her embrace tethers him to a composure he had forgotten.

But it doesn’t last long. Isabel lowers her arms, pulling back just enough to look Talen in the eye.

Talen feels a pang as he notices the remorse in her eyes.

Talen: What is it?

Isabel: Castalia… She made her wish.

Talen gulps, afraid to ask what that means, but he thinks he already knows the answer.

Talen: What did she wish for?

Isabel takes a deep breath.

Isabel: A soul for a soul. To take away one life and return another.

Talen: What does that mean?

Isabel burrows her face into his shoulder, muffling her sob.

Isabel: It means you get to live. And someone… someone has to die.

Talen pulls her closer and strokes her back, consolingly. It feels strange. Months ago, if they found one another like this, he’d refuse to say goodbye. He’d be willing to dwell in this void for eternity if it meant they could stay together. To actually accept never seeing her again was out of the question. But as he cradles her now, it dawns on him that he’s already done just that.

Isabel: I don’t know if I’m happy or sad. I don’t want to leave you, Talen. But I don’t have a choice.

Talen: Isabel… I…

She lifts her head, sniffling, and cups his head in her hands.

Isabel: I always knew you’d save me. But I have to go now, okay?

Her words nail him in the chest, but he forces himself to nod.

Talen: I know. I love you, Isabel.

Isabel: I love you, Talen. Your new life is a gift. I know you won’t waste it.

Talen: Goodbye, Isabel.

She lifts up and presses her lips to his. Talen closes his eyes, feeling the rush of her life and love flow into him. He holds onto her hands and feels the caress of her lips, cherishing her touch as it begins to fade away.

Where it continues to last, even after it’s gone.

*  * *

Taeyva: Talen?

Talen opens his eyes as the memory vanishes. The walls of the palace snap back into place around him as he is yanked back to reality.

Talen: Huh? What?

He stares at his friends, standing before him with a concerned look.

Taeyva: You drifted off for a second.

Mike: Hey, we’re here for you. Alright?

Davey: You can talk to us. You know that?

Dennis: Whatever you need, Talen. Say it and I’ll do what I can.

Taeyva: Don’t think you’re alone now. Please?

Talen looks back at his friends and a wave of comfort settles over him like he’s never felt. The anguish of loss still clutches his heart, he can already feel it softening. He takes a deep breath and, to his surprise, manages a smile.

Talen: I’m okay. Really.

Talen: I can’t thank you all enough.

Talen: But really, for everything… Thank you.

To be concluded…