Sorerica had been waiting for quite some time now. She had seen cases of Sanguinare Vampiris before and so she instructed Carciel and Sorene to undertake the proper procedures to cure it. The day after Lucari had contracted it, they made her drink a vial of Cure Disease potion and laced her food with it as well, but to no avail. The next day they had both the Dibellan priestess Senna and Brother Verulus come and give Lucari their blessings, but that was a bust as well. Nothing about this made sense. Was it because of who Lucari had gotten bit by? If so, she’d definitely have to find that vamper and wring its neck.

 

As she continued to wait, Sorerica was getting antsy. She was a woman of action, not some girl to be made to wait. However, with Carciel was tending to Lucari, and her ally Sorene was out on double duty: searching for both the Halfing Niyleen and a cure for vampirism, all she could do was that, wait.

 

After quite some time she was relieved to hear the doors to the master bedroom close and see Carciel emerge. “So,” Sorerica said with an anxious look on her face. “How’s our patient doing, little Breton?”

“I don’t get it,” Carciel said with a pained expression on her face. “I did everything right, took every precaution, made sure to—”

 

“How is she?”

 

“She just went back to sleep…She’s cold, but still has her color. But it’s almost night. She could turn at any moment!”

“Shit,” Sorerica cursed. “What do we do now? Sore’s not back yet and if she doesn’t have a cure…”

 

“Don’t say that!” Carciel snapped. “I… I’m sorry. Damn it, I’m so messed up in the head… Five days ago I wouldn’t have cared if Niyleen or Lucari were off dead in a ditch somewhere, now…”

 

Sorerica scratched the back of her neck. “It’s nothing Carci. It’s my fault anyway for being such a downer.”

“No, it’s all my fault,” Carciel said breaking away from Sorerica’s gaze. “I was the one that insisted on leaving the house. I was the one that insisted on fighting Molag Bal’s minions. I was the one that got beat and put Lucari in danger. And I was the one who sat back and watched as Lucari was turned… I tried to be my sister just for one moment, you can see how that went.”

(How am I supposed to handle this? I’m no good at cheering people up. I’m a warrior, not a damn consultant…) “Listen,” Sorerica said sternly. “It’s not your fault okay. Everyone had their own say in the matter. Lucari chose to go with you, fight with you. And Niyleen probably chose to go wherever it is that she went. Now’s not the time to be beating yourself up. You’ve gotta stay strong and plan for what’s next.”

 

“Thanks.” Carciel said with a sad smile. “I needed that.”

 

“I-it’s nothing.” (Don’t thank me, i-idiot.)

“But by the gods where is Sorene,” Carciel asked. “Lucari could change at any moment and we still are in the dark about what happened to Niyleen.”

 

“Shit…” (I can’t do this. I need to do something! Relying on others so much isn’t how I handle things. This is so, awkward…)

The two continued to talk unbeknownst to them that they were secretly being watched. It wasn’t until the person wanted their presence known that they finally sprang into action.

“Hey guys,” Sorene said causing the two women to jump before staring at her. “I know it’s late but I’ve got some good news and some bad news.”

 

“We’ll take the good news,” Sorerica said before Carciel could utter a single word. She quickly gave her friend a quick look over and sighed. “Considering you came back empty-handed, there must be so much bad news that whatever good news you have is going to feel negligent if left to go second.”

 

“I guess we’ve been partners for too long,” Sorene said. “Okay here’s the good news: I’ve gotten a lead on the last place Niyleen was sighted.”

 

“That’s great news,” Carciel shouted, momentarily forgetting herself.

“So," the Breton nudged. "Where is she?”

 

“Well…”

 

“The start of the bad news?”

 

Sorene nodded. “She was last seen within Cidhna Mine. She was taken there by a Redguard guard named Jarte who swore that she kept trying to seduce him. I snuck into Cidhna to see if I could fine her, but she and another inmate were nowhere to be seen…”

 

“How in the world did you—no nevermind.” Sorerica could see the pained look in her eyes and mouthed, was it Telind? To which the succubus replied with a nod. (Shit. At least they were both alive and in Markarth.) “What about that cure?”

 

“It’s in Morthal I’m afraid.”

 

“What… what are we supposed to do?”

“I don’t know,” Sorene said. “But perhaps the man in Morthal can assist us once Lucari fully turns. It’s our only real course of action at the moment…”

(Stop, stop it! I have just about as much a clue of what to do as the both of you!) They were both looking at Sorerica for some type of guidance, but such a task was beyond her. Nothing in her normal game book was going to be of use to them. (It’s not like I can shout the disease away…)

After thinking about it for a while, Sorerica finally said, “We’ll go with Sorene’s plan when it comes to Lucari. We have no other options other than to just be there for her and give her our support.” Sorerica sighed. The whole matter was giving her a headache. “As for Niyleen… we’ll begin a search for her as early as tomorrow morning. But let’s keep it from Lucari. Don’t want her to worry too much.”

 

Meanwhile…

 

“Zzz… oh Niyleen… zzzz…” Lucari was peacefully sleeping after having another meal from Carciel. She never expected it because of the Breton’s rough exterior, but she could cook up a storm.

However, even though she had just ate and felt satisfied, a rumbling in her stomach declared otherwise and jolted the Nord from her sleep.

 

Stretching lightly she “Mmmm… aaahhhh, just as I was getting to the good part.”

Sitting up, Lucari began to think about the last few days and how everyone had been treating her like royalty. (Must have been Niyleen’s doing since she’s had to be out so much. Haaa… I do miss her though.)

(Like, I know she’s the Raging Inferno, but… she’s never been unkind to me. Even when I said my dream was to turn her in, she stayed with me and even tried to protect me from her and her lifestyle by acting cold. So… sweet…)

“Eh?” Lucari looked around and the world looked vibrant. Everything seemed bright and popped out to her. “Did… did Carciel give me skooma? N-naw, I’m just tired is all.”

Shaking the cobwebs from her head she went over towards the closet to try on another outfit when she saw the most delicious looking apple she had ever seen in her life.

(I don’t know how long it’s been sitting here, but something about it is calling to me…) She took a bite and it was sweet, sweeter than she could dream of.

So she took another bit, but this time she spat it out immediately. “Rotten? But it tasted so good…” She stared down the apple for a few moments before moving on. (Dang… this rumbling in my stomach just won’t stop.)

Opening the closet, Lucari was again amazed at the variety of clothes it held. Dresses, adventuring gear, formal attire, sleepwear, the works. (With such a bounty of clothing options available to her, why did she decide to make what she’s typically wears now? Such a waste… for her, tee hee.)

After playing dress up for a bit, Lucari finally settled on a little blue and grey number that just felt right. “Ehehehee, I can’t wait to show this off to everybody. Maybe I’ll get some complements.” The smile on her face was too big for words, but she couldn’t help but be elated. Something about this night just told her it was time to get out and have fun.

(Yeah… I can’t wait to show this off to Niyleen. Maybe she’ll praise me, maybe I’ll… get a taste of her. I bet she tastes sweet, like that Snowberry Crostata she made for me. Oooh, how I can’t wait to suck her until she shudders from the pleasures…!?)

“S-suck her? Don’t I mean lick?” The slip of the tongue made no sense Lucari. It’s not like Niyleen had a penis, she’d seen her dazzling nude body before and it definitely wasn’t there.

 

At that moment she heard Sorene say from outside the door,”…the man in Morthal can assist us once Lucari fully turns. It’s our only real course of action at the moment…”

 

Lucari began to panic. (F-fully turns?)

Lucari wiped the dust off of the jug that was on the dresser and stared at her reflection. What stared back at her was a pale skinned, red eyed… monster.

Lucari dropped to her knees and felt like her life was coming undone. (Nononono, this can’t be happening. I’m… I’m…)

 

Throb.

 

Suddenly the scents of her friends wafted through her nose and she was overcome with the feeling of hunger. They smelled so good, just like a five course dinner…

Lucari’s eyes widened and she couldn’t believe what she was thinking. “T-they’re my f-f-friends not…” Another wave of their scents drifted through her nose. “… food… Sweet, delicious meat sacks…” She reached for the door and froze. She felt sick. That was her food… FRIENDS out there and that she’d even think about taking a bite out of their delicious necks… (Nononono) “Nonoooooooooooooo!”

Outside the room…

 

The three of them froze as the heard Lucari’s shrieks from within the room.

 

“Lu-Lucari!”

Both out of concern and due to her being sick of waiting, Sorerica was the first to act, blowing through the door and calling out, “Are you alright Cari?”

When she got into the room Sorerica immediately stopped frozen. “What in the—”

 

“What’s the matter?” Carciel asked as she and Sorene came in after her. “Is something wrong with—!?!”

“She's… gone.”