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Machinations of a Lich - Chapter 2 Bloodlust Skana turned on her back after a while as she slept through the day, not minding the hard ground she was resting on. Sleeping like a stone, she didn't notice the heavy footsteps coming closer. Her mind began slowly to stir when she heard a male voice speaking to her. "No, really. I know vampires can develop odd habits, but i have never seen one sleeping on the ground, what were you actually before you got reanimated?" Skana awoke, being mildly annoyed to have her first real time of rest in years interrupted. "I only remember I was a bandit chief at some fort somewhere in Skyrim, but those times are over and i don't really care." As Skana got up she noticed it was Skaal who was talking to her. "I have to admit, you surprise me. Considering what happened to you in the last three years, you seem to take this whole situation with ease." Skana expected herself to yawn, but her undead body had no such intention. "Should I sit in a corner and drown in sadness until the end of days? I don't think so. I got what others only dream of, albeit through a lot of suffering.." Skaal said nothing for a few moments on that and Skana used the moment to get up while asking him. "What's with the long face?" Skaal just stood a while there and stared into the wall before he continued to speak. "I had an apprentice once. Her name was Illia, i'm sure that rings a bell to you. If i hadn't taught her the dead thrall spell, this all would have never happened to you." Skana didn't really cared about any of that and joked around. "Oh come on, being raped by a daedric lord isn't that bad, although i would've propably enjoyed it if it was Azura or Nocturnal instead of Molag Bal." Skaal couldn't suppress a slight hint of a smile. "I think i understand what you're getting at. Anyway, good to see that you are unaffected by all this. Now follow me, i want to introduce someone to you and we got something for you." As Skana began to follow Skaal she remembered something she saw yesterday. "Say, why is Skaadi wearing a collar? She doesn't really appears like a person who would bow to anyone." Skaal kept walking while he elaborated on the topic. "The former ruler of the castle, Harkon, used it on her. Sort of a way trying to discipline her because she was rather disobedient from what i heard." "Unfortunately, I was at Saarthal at that time back then, discovering and studying the path towards becoming what i am now. I deeply regret that i never had the chance to annihilate that cretin personally. When Skaadi killed him, the enchantment on the collar entirely ceased to work ." He continued with a grim face. Skana was surprised. "Why isn't she taking it off then? I mean man or mer wearing a collar is usually a sign for slav-.." She paused abruptly as she noticed what she was about to say and let out a deep-drawn sigh. "That was awkward." Skaal explained."When i told my wife that it reminds me of a dangerous, leashed animal, she began to saw more my words in it than anything else, she took a liking to those workds and that's why she is still wearing it. And if i may give you some advice, try to forget your collar, eventually you won't even notice it anymore after a while." Skana played with the iron ring on her collar while she replied. "You have no idea Skaal. I feel it whenever i move, i can't just pretend it isn't there." Shortly before reaching the main hall of the castle, Skaal turned around and continued the topic. "Ronara propably told you already a bit about the oddities of being a vampire, you could also end up liking it." Skana still didn't really understand that part of being a vampire yet. "Considering i'm forced to wear it, does it matter if i like it or not? I only experienced bad stuff with it and while Skaadi propably won't break my neck, i'm not exactly looking forward to kiss her boots or whatever she'd have me do." Skaal advised her as they both went down the stairs into the great hall of the castle. "Skaadi looses interest if the subject is willing, perhaps knowing this helps you." Skana didn't liked that at all."Oh great... doing it willingly once or doing it a hundred times unwilling, i guess once is better." As they entered the hall, Skana saw Skaadi talking to another vampire. "just some remnants of the dawnguard, i don't get it myself why they try so hard to reestablish after we almost wiped them out decades ago, i guess they think it's fun to play vampire hunter." Skaal interrupted the conversion blandly. "Greetings Ylfa, what news to you bring from the holds?" Skana just stood there hoping Skaadi wouldn't do anything funny. The two vampire women turned to Skaal and Ylfa eyed Skana. "Greetings Skaal, just some unorganized dawnguard movement in Dawnstar. Considering we've almost destroyed them about 120 years ago i think we can ignore it aslong as they don't start to creep around the castle again. What's this? Does the clan enslave vampires now?" Skaadi answered Ylfas question. "Oh i forgot to mention our newest addition to the clan. This is Skana, she was a dead thrall before becoming a vampire, hence the bindings and all that. But that magic collar on her is nice, Skaal and I can force her to do anything we want, of course my husband would never do such a thing, but i certainly would, you know it's entertaining." Ylfa grinned amused."Skana Skaadi Skaal, that's quite the name trio we have here. But i do love new things, so why don't you show me that collar in action Skaadi?" Skaadi pondered for a second but asked Ylfa instead."Well, what do you suggest to have her do? I could have her kiss Orthjolfs ass, that would be hilarious and i really doubt he would mind it." Ylfa disagreed though."Nay, not Orthjolf, we can't do that to her, he's the only vampire i ever met who manages to smell like a barrel full of mead" Skana thought about what Skaal told her a few minutes ago and she certainly would like to avoid situations like this. She raised her arms as if signalizing to surrender. "Yes yes, make fun of the new pet. Whatever you want, should i lick the floor clean of blood or something? I'm thirsty anyway so let's just get this over with." Skaal apparently told the truth. Skaadi changed the topic. "Well, that would be certainly a less messy way to feed for you. You should've seen that Ylfa, she devoured half of a thrall and barfed it all on the floor afterwards." Another awkward moment for Skana, but better than licking the floor or worse, Orthjolfs ass, whoever Orthjolf is. "Oh come on, it was my first time and i wasn't in control of myself." Ylfa took word again although she changed to a more seductive tone."Perhaps someone should be in control of you, so you'd learn to feed properly. Should i show you how to do it? I can teach you many things." That was enough to make Skana more than just annoyed. She never liked seductive types and the topic isn't making it better. "Perhaps i should teach you what happened to the first person that was in control of me. I ripped her head off with bare hands and i wouldn't mind to do it again, if you catch my meaning." Ylfa was neither impressed nor intimidated by Skanas words."Oh she's a feisty one, i like her. I think i have a reason to stay at the castle now." Skaadi didn't really mind. "Be my guest Ylfa, you know where everything is. I think you two will get along just fine." Skaal who watched the introduction the whole time decided to take the word again. "Now then ladies, let's keep the pleasantries for later, i was actually taking Skana to the armory." Skaadi just threw in a "I expect a 'thank you' from you later Skana." Skana was still busy snarling at Ylfa and replied dry."Yeah sure. Whatever you say Skaadi." Ylfa just kept being amused by Skana. "I bet i can make you smile before the night ends." Skana turned to follow Skaal and just barked into her Scarf. "What an irritating woman." Skaal just laughed while he kept walking. "Ylfa isn't irritating Skana, having a discussion with Maera about council-rules, that's irritating. But i hope you'll never see that wretch again." Skana had no intention of trying to remember what exactly happened back in the Soul Cairn, as she followed Skaal to the armory, Ylfa was keeping her thoughts occupied. "What's with Ylfa? I just met her and it's like she's desperately trying to provocate me." Skaal noted cheerful. "That's just like her. Don't let it get to your head, she's just probing your personality. Talking of which, what do you think of her?" Skana didn't really know what to say so she just voiced the first thought that came to her mind."I find her attractive.. and irritating." The surprised look on Skaals face told Skana that wasn't the answer he had expected. "That's not really what i was asking for but i think i get what you meant with Azura instead of Molag Bal now." Skana was embarassed so she said nothing, but Skaal disarmed the situation, pointing at the weapon rack on the wall."My wife keeps her weapon very dear to herself, like any good warrior should do. I'm sure this blade is familiar to you." Skana couldn't believe her eyes at first. "But, that's my greatsword! That's my palefire greatsword!" Skaal elaborated on the weapon. "Palefire greatsword? I guess you could call it that way. When my wife forged it she named it Coldflame. You see, Skaadi is very fond of Akaviri swordmanship and according to history the Akaviri believed a warriors weapon is his soul, so they gave names to their weapons. It's obviously just metaphoric but a warrior has to find meaning in something just like a wizard does in his studies. Skaadi wasn't satisfied with that sword though, so she forged a daedric blade some years afterwards." Happy to see the blade again, Skana didn't thought of any fancy Akaviri names. She just wanted to have it again. "So when Illia went that day out of the cave, she came here to steal it i guess. Skaadi said i should thank her later, so she'll let me have the sword i take it?" A simple "That is correct." could be heard from Skaal. Skana happily fastened the sword on her back, noticing the familiar blue flames of the palefire enchantment."Who created the palefire enchantment actually?" With a proud tone to his voice Skaal replied. "That was me. Something to counter those pesky dawnguard cretins." As Skana wanted to say something, commotion could be heard from the main hall of the castle. Skaadi was angrily discussing something with someone, someone with a rather hoarse and raspy voice. Skaal rushed towards the room exit. "I don't like the sound of that voice." An odd clothed old Aldmer was standing in the hall, facing a very angry Skaadi with her weapon drawn. "The last Aldmer who annoyed me in these halls lost his limbs before i decapitated him, your chances to leave here intact are getting dangerously slim, Elf!" Skaal raised his voice."What's the meaning of this intrusion?" The old elf stayed calm and spoke with his raspy voice. "Lady Skaadi, with respect, all i want is to talk to your husband, i assure you after that i'll be gone, let's not make this a big deal. Skaadi was seething. "A big deal? You'll shove your bony ass out of my castle or i'll show you that you and my husband aren't the only ones who can transform into something nasty." The elf seemed to think for a moment, propably choosing his next words very carefully. "I have no intention to ignite a fight in your home, i came here with disturbing news, regarding recent dawnguard activity." Skana had no idea who the pompous elf infront of her was but Skaal knew him. "Uthrang spare us the formalities, what do you want and why do you intrude in my wifes castle?" Skaadi had her weapon sheathed again when she noticed Skaal being present. "Husband, you know i can't stomach this clown, i trust you will tell him to leave. Now excuse me, i need to find Nei before i loose my temper." Skaadi hastily left the hall after those words. "Ah cold and beautiful as always, your wife." As Uthrang laid eyes on Skana his interest seemed to be piqued. "And i see the slave is still accompanying you but what's this? Molag Bal turned her into a vampire eh? Yes that's just like him." Skana remembered the name Uthrang from that time back in Coldharbour, he was the other Lich, the one who spoke as if he was delusional. Calling her a slave made her rather angry. "I'm no ones slave you wannabe necromancer!" Skana noticed her temper gets increasingly shorter over time and she tried to suppress her anger. Skaal seemed to notice it."Calm yourself Skana, don't let those words agitate you." Skaal turned to Uthrang and spoke sternly."Skana is now a member of the Volkihar clan and you will treat her with the respect she deserves, are we clear on that?" Uthrang changed to his formal tone once more."Of course, apologies, i meant no disrespect. Now on to the current matter, i'm sure you'll be quite surprised to hear that i've seen the former Dawnguard leader Isran in dawnstar with a few of his troops." Skaal became slightly annoyed. "That's nonsense, Isran got killed decades ago. And last i remember the Dawnguard doesn't practices necromancy. We are well aware of some unorganized remnants that desperately try to reestablish their old order but Isran is nothing more than dust by now. You're wasting our and your time, i suggest you leave now before i show you the door." Ylfa took word on the matter. "No wait, this actually makes sense now that he says it, i remember seeing a bunch of dawnguard recieving orders from a bald redguard. When i think about it this could've been Isran, as unlikely it seems." Skaal turned to Ylfa in disbelief. "How in oblivion would that be possible? Even if we didn't killed him, He would be around 140 years old by now, no mortal man lives that long, especially not if he despises necromancy and vampirism like Isran did." Uthrang had a throw in again."Yes, like i said it's quite disturbing considering the facts about the Dawnguard." "Perhaps i should also note, he fights exactly like he did decades ago. I was curious and sent some minions in, he burned them to a crisp with his aura spell. Now that said, i will take my leave, i trust you will handle this accordingly since i have had no real business with the Dawnguard before." Uthrang vanished into a portal. Skaal turned to Skana and Ylfa. "I hate to admit this, but Uthrang is right, this needs to be investigated. I'd like you two to handle this, it's also a good possibility to get to know each other. And Ylfa, i'm sure Skana noticed it herself by now, her temper grows rather unstable, her body wants to catch up the three years without blood she had in the Soul Cairn, i trust you take care of her. In the meantime, i'll head into the Cairn, i'd like to know how Maera managed to get in there yesterday." Ylfa faced Skana with a smug grin."Well, you heard the Lord, Looks like i'll get to show you the ropes." Skana had trouble to handle her mood, Ylfas choice of words didn't made it easier for her either. "I'll show you the tip of my sword if you order me to do anything." Ylfa put on a playful face. "Only if you want me to order you, that's a difference and some people actually enjoy that." Skana didn't understand what Ylfa was getting at."Why i would i want to be a slave again? Care to tell me? You're so damn irritating." Skaal just shook his head. "You should learn to take a hint Skana. Anyway i trust you two can handle a mysteriously reanimated, or whatever happened to him, redguard crusader. Now off with you two." As Skana and Ylfa made for the exit of the castle, Skana thought about being in a town full of mortal men and mer and hoped for the best."So, my first time as vampire in a town, won't they recognize what we are when they see our eyes? I mean you all have glowing red yes, i think it's safe to assume my eyes look the same." Ylfa elaborated on that casually."Non-undead are not able to see it, for them our eyes are whatever they were before we became vampires. You only have to watch out for magelight, as it is able to reveal what we are." It was a wonderful night when they stepped ouf of the castle and went the ramp down to the water. Skana wanted to ask how they will get off the island but discarded the thought when she noticed the small boat ashore. Ylfa however had a question. "We take the boat there, ...say are you always barefoot?" Skana would've liked not to answer but moody as she was she couldn't stay silent. "You're doing that on purpose, right? Imagine to wear a pair of boots with those ankle cuffs." Ylfa just laughed as they both got into the boat and made their way across the water to Dawnstar. Skana preferred to say nothing on the boat trip, she just enjoyed the night. A few hours later at the shore of Dawnstar Skana took word. "So, where do we start?" Ylfa just chuckled. "At the inn, you silly. It's the best place to get the newest talk in the town." Skana eyed every person they passed by with an interested look. This town is full of prey, a giant feast for a vampire. As she stared at a guard a bit too long she heard Ylfa behind her. "Hey, control yourself, we're not here to trouble the townsfolk." Skana saw the sign of the inn and steered straight towards it. "Shut up Ylfa, i know what i'm doing." Ylfa just chuckled to herself again. "I like it when you're so feisty." Skana wanted to give a matching reply to that as they both entered the inn, but the smell of blood interrupted her. There was a man lying dead on the floor, covered in his own blood. The man must've died only minutes ago, the smell of blood had a quality to it that made Skana want to sink her fangs into the corpse. Before Ylfa could throw another funny line at her, Skana spoke first. "I know, I have to control myself." No funny or sarcastic line this time from Ylfa when she commended Skana. "You didn't jump on the corpse the second you saw it, you're doing good i think." The short moment of acknowledgment went to waste when the man on the bar counter spoke in a burly voice . "That man, deserved no better. An innkeeper turning to necromancy to bring his dead wife back to life is just disgusting.." The bald redguard continued his stern speech as he turned around on the chair. "And here i was thinking to have a drink before i finish off the rest of his family. But i have to wonder since when does vampire scum like you tour the inns of skyrim? This man knew what they are without even looking at them, Skana and Ylfa were alarmed and drew their weapons. Ylfa remarked. "This is definitely Isran, i do remember that way of talking, he was even spouting this nonsense while we were impaling him on the gate at Fort Dawnguard." Getting called 'vampire scum' was exactly what Skana expected to hear from a guy like this. "Good, glad that the formalities are skipped, so i can cleave your ugly bald head." Isran was hardly impressed at Skanas words and readied a spell. "Ha, i've killed dozens if not hundreds of your kind, you won't be the last i'll kill." Having formed his aura spell, Isran began to provocate the two vampires. "You won't be able to even touch me, now come let me bash your fangs back into your head with my hammer!" Skana could feel the aura even from the other side of the inn, it reminded her of her encounter with Auronus. Being remembered of that day where the spear pierced her throat made her hysterical. "No! Not this again, no!" Ylfa did not realize what was happening at first. "Skana? Hey what's wrong?" Skana went down on her knees and began to stammer. "Not the spear, please no! I don't want to die again!" She saw Auronus' iron visage in her mind. The spear rushing towards her throat, everything. Ylfa tried to help her. "Skana snap out of it, that's his aura spell, you can will it away, all vampires can do that, i can do it and you can do it too! Think of something wonderful, something you'd like to have, something that makes you happy. Just will it away!" Something snapped in Skanas mind, she heard Ylfas words, to think of something that makes her happy, something she wants... Something she craves. Skana looked up at the ceiling of the inn, and began to mutter to herself. "Something i want, something i want, something i want.." she began to laugh silently. When Skana got up from her knees she kept muttering to herself the same words. "Something that makes me happy... something i want.." There was worry in her voice when Ylfa asked. "Skana, are you alright?" Skana began to laugh while repeating the same words over and over again. "It makes me happy, it makes me feel good, it makes me happy..." After staying silent for a few seconds, she fixiated Isran with her eyes. "Yes, you have what makes me happy." Skana snapped completely, she roared with laughter and began to shout. "BLOOD MAKES ME HAPPY, GIVE ME YOURS! GIVE ME YOURS!" Ylfa noticed too late that Skana flew into a frenzy. "No Skana!" Skana didn't heard Ylfas words and charged straight at Isran roaring like an animal. Skana did not care for Israns paltry aura, she didn't care how it tried to burn her undead flesh, all she wants was Israns blood. Ylfa could barely keep up with Skanas speed "Damn girl, you'll kill yourself at this rate!" and Isran was completely overwhelmed for a second, avoiding a fatal attack only by an inch. Isran parried the second attack, but Skana swung her sword with such force that his hammer almost slipped from his hands when his arms were flung behind his back due to the momentum. Momentum he used to execute a counter attack. Skana was acting more out of instinct than anything when she readied herself to parry Israns attack. Ylfa tried to help Skana but the aura burned her instantly. "Ah damn, i guess you're better in shrugging spells off when you're really angry." Skana parried Israns attack and disarmed him in the same moment by bashing the hammer out of his hands. Isran couldn't keep up with Skanas fury but in his own sense of pride he provocated her again. "What? That's it?! Come on give me your best shot, scum!" Skana intended to oblige, so she kicked him away from the bar counter and raised her sword to cleave Israns head just like she said. Isran did only laugh and his voice changed slightly. "The next time, I will fight you serious." Skana didn't care what the redguard kneeling at her feet had to say, she just wanted to sink her sword into that mans skull. But before she could strike the final blow, a fiery blue explosion emanated from Isran, blowing Skana off her feet against a wooden beam in the inn. Skana was leaning against the wooden beam she hit when she got flung away by the explosion, disappointed she noticed that Isran was gone. Ylfa was kneeling next to her, trying to gather strength. "Shors bones, what was that? That guy might looked like Isran, but i didn't remember him doing explosive teleportations when we fought him decades ago." Skana just snarled at Ylfa, she was angry that Isran or whoever that was is gone. She wanted to cleave his head in half, drinking his blood, using the skull bone as a cup. But then she could hear a person whimpering somewhere in the inn. Skana immediately jumped on her feet and pointed into a room of the inn. "I hear someone...someone in agony, it's so delightful. I think it comes from that room." Ylfa could barely stand and complained. "Excuse me i'm still trying to come to terms that we almost got burned to a crisp by a mysterious copy of a long dead crusader." Skana didn't gave a damn about it, she was still lusting for blood, blood that might be right in range. "I have to find it, i want to feed!" Ylfa realized Skana isn't done yet with her bloodrage and just stared shocked at her going into the sideroom. "Snap out of it Skana, you have to control it and not let it control you." Skana refused to hear Ylfas words again and as she saw the person who was whimpering all the time, she was happy. She could finally feed, no one would be able to take the feast from her this time. As the whimpering woman noticed Skana entering the room, she began to beg her. "Please, help me! This man has killed my father! Just because he wanted to bring Ma back, there's nothing wrong in that isn't ?! Please i need your help!" Skana did not care for the womans pleas and she just grabbed her throat and lifted her up on her feet. "Do i look like i give a damn about a dead innkeeper?! Or a begging peasant like you?! Huh?! Do i?!" The woman was only able to gargle instead of answering. Ylfa apparently felt better already when she entered the room. "Skana that is enough." But Skana became annoyed by those words. "I told you not to order me around Ylfa! Now shut up while i enjoy this." Before Ylfa could react, Skana bent the womans head to the right and sunk her fangs into her neck. Skana savored every drop of blood she drained from her victim, the feast she had waited for so long finally found its way to her. Skana accidently enthralled her as she greedily drained the womans veins, the woman was in a trance like state, muttering something to herself. "I.. must be ...in sovngarde.... ah this feels so... wonderful." This didn't go fast enough for Skana, she wanted all of her blood, in an instant, now. "I want it all!" Skana shouted while she ripped the womans head off her neck. Skana marveled at the blood splattering everywhere. "Yes! More! Give me more!" As Skana turned around to Ylfa she snarled, showing her fangs. "I want more, there is more in this town, i want it all!" Ylfa tried to talk Skana out of it, but Skana was drunk on blood and she wanted more. "Skana i urge you to stop it, you'll get addicted and turn feral if you continue this!" Skana aimed for the room exit, she wanted to introduce herself to Dawnstar. "Shut up, you're irritating as usual!" Ylfa grabbed Skana from behind and stopped her, Skana was protesting. "Let me go, or i'll swear i kill you!" Ylfa just held Skana closer to herself."I could bite your neck, right here and now and steal all that that blood you just had. I'm also thirsty, but that doesn't mean i will actually do it. I was in the same state a century ago i know what i'm talking about Skana, if you want to survive, you have to restrain yourself or else you'll go insane at this rate." Skanas mind jumped into different directions, never finishing a thought, except one. Ylfa seemed to care for her. This was enough to bring Skanas mind back to reality and she relaxed in Ylfas grasp. "It's alright, i'm myself again...and thank you." Ylfa turned Skana around. "Let me have a look at your face." After a few embarassing seconds for Skana, she added."That beautiful face of yours suits you better than the bloodthirsty grimace you just had. How about i'll distract you a bit from that bloodthirst when we're back at the castle?" Skana was perplexed, she knew what Ylfa meant but the straightforwardness surprised her. She remembered what Ronara told her about getting the mind off of the thirst before she tentatively accepted Ylfas proposal. "I think it couldn't hurt to try." As Ylfa released her from her grasp, Skana tried to get the situation sorted in her mind. It was a bit embarrassing but for some reason she enjoyed the thought that Ylfa cared for her, but there were more urgent matters. "In any case, we should get back and tell Skaal about what happened here. I'm sure he might have an idea what this Isran imitation was." Skana said nothing on the way back to the boat, but Ylfa seemed to know what was going on in her mind. "Hey, no need to be so shy. Where's the feisty woman i met at the castle a few hours ago?" There was no need to be embarrassed or shy, after all Skana deems herself more barbaric than civilized."Oh well, get your ass into the boat and start to row, while i enjoy the night." Ylfa replied with glee. "That's much better." Skana couldn't help herself, in the end Ylfa was right, she made her smile before the night has ended.

Machinations of a lich - Chapter 1 Maera Skana lost her sense of time as she wandered the soul cairn, not knowing if she was here for hours, days or even years. Her thirst was unrelenting and took its toll on her mind as well. She didn't even know anymore what she was searching for but she couldn't stop, it was driving her. Sometimes she tried to interact with one of the few souls she met in the desolate landscape, but the souls didn't even took notice of her, she could reach right through them, to no avail or any reaction from them. She stopped feeling disappointment and frustration a while ago, she just kept wandering. No thoughts inhabited her mind, except for the urge the quench the thirst that kept tormenting her, quietly but unyielding. Occasionally she walked past a structure with a large skeletal being standing infront of it. At first she tried to to avoid being noticed by it. But at least once, she mindlessly wandered near it. The large skeletal being just vanished when she came close, telling her it isn't time yet. It could have been a hallucination, Skana didn't know what it was and she didn't care nor did she think about it. After a while she shambled back to the place she deemed to be her resting place, a rib cage which must've belonged to a mammoth once. After she closed her eyes, she could hear a female voice laughing, calling out to her. Propably another nightmare, which she had very often lately. The voice didn't stop calling out to her in a cynical tone. Skana noticed she wasn't sleeping yet, this was no dream. She almost fell over her own feet as she stood up, intending to investigate where it came from. And then she saw it. A woman standing in one of the structures of the soul cairn. Standing there casually, gesturing for her to come over. The thirst in Skana took over, never having fed since she became a vampire turned her feral and this woman over there looked very much alive to serve her needs. Skana began to walk towards her in a hunched manner, like a wild and rabid snow troll. "Oh, you poor poor little bloodsucker." Said the woman in a cynical fashion. The words alone were enough to deepen Skanas feral state. Skana wanted to call out for her, to taunt her, to kill her. All that escaped her lips was a deep growl as she went faster towards the woman, ready to pounce at her and pin her down, to rip her throat apart and sink her fangs into it, savoring the sweet salvation flowing from it. But nothing what the vampire had pictured in Skanas mind did happen, the woman was suddenly standing behind her, mocking her, denying her the feast she had hoped for so long. "You must be so weak, you can barely stand." The woman said. Eyeing Skana as she felt weakness overcoming her body. "You see, my last ...plaything broke. I have waited for something new for so long." Skana growled as she went down on her knees in exhaustion. The short run took a greater toll as her body had expected. "Oh the fun i could have with a vampire.." The woman dreamily said to herself. There was something in the air suddenly. Something heavy, as if electricy was accumulating to form a single giant lightning strike. The roll of thunder could be heard, coming closer very fast. And then reality tore itself apart. A single enourmous lightning strike came down behind the unknown woman. Skanas head began to spin from the thundering sound, this wasn't part of the strange weather in the soul cairn. The woman turned around directly facing the lightning strike, yelling "Oh no, not you. Can't a girl have some fun?" in a agressive tone. As the thunderous explosion cleared, the shape of a man could be seen in it. Skanas feral mind got awkwardly reminded of a auroran she has met a long time ago. But this man was different, he was practically emanating magicka and something dark, like the opposite of Auronus' aura. It felt good. "This girl went through enough hardships the last three years. And the last person to have fun with me around, is you. Maera." The man replied sternly. Maera played a surprised gesture and continued in her cynical tone. "Oho, the high and mighty risen lord himself comes down to the cairn to deprive me of my pet. To what do i owe this honor, Skaal?". She dropped the surprised face in the same sentence "Are you tired of your little vampire whore? Do you want a new one? Is it that?" in a cold tone and kept going. "Oh i have an idea." Maera knelt down and spoke to Skana. "Do you see that man? He has all you need, all the blood you can drink, go get it!". Skana regained enough strength to stand again and she immediately charged Skaal in her bloodlust, growling like an animal. "She is all yours!" Maera remarked snidely. Skaal just said."I belive it is better for your health when you stay down for now." to Skana as she charged him. There was magic behind those words, they were enough to make Skana drop down in exhaustion again. Skaal now, speaking to Maera again, his voice changed as he did, it became deeper with strangely short echoes accompanying it and part of his skin seemed to fade away when he raised his hand. "The bargain has been concluded without you Maera, you didn't attent to the meetings and yet you claim ownership of the girl." Maera became snappy. "Oh come on, fancy bones. Just because you retrieved the Dawnbreaker for Bal. I could've done that as well. We're both part of the Coldharbour council and you already have your vampire toy. Let me have mine. Why don't you go and kiss Uthrangs bony ass after you have licked your whore into the next coffin?" Skaal became angry and began to turn even more skeletal. "You don't attent to meetings yet you claim ownership of a sentient being with a soul, one i deem kin. You break the rules of the bargain by coming here in an attempt to steal what isn't yours. And above all else, you have insulted my queen, we're done talking." Maera apparently had her fun provoking Skaal. "Yada yada my queen." she mocked him. "Someone with your power bows to a queen, how ridiculous. And you bear the title of risen lord, i can see why Uthrang covets it. I would like it as well but you see, risen lady sounds just plain stupid." Skaal was now completely skeletal in appearance, this disturbed Maera slightly. "Hey you don't intent to attack me?! We're both members of the council, that's against the rules!" Skana was still lying on the ground next to Skaal, she couldn't move but she felt electricity building up in the surroundings. Skaal just laughed with his deep echoing voice. "Rules that apply in Coldharbour, this isn't Coldharbour. And you're the last person to lecture me on rules. And to further add to this, a king bows only to his queen." Electricity was crackling everywhere and Skaal who was done with words ultimately, unleashed his spell against Maera. Maera went down on her knees in laughter. "A lightning storm spell? Is that all? That barely tickled me!" Her face spoke otherwise. "This isn't over Skaal, i will have my new plaything and neither you nor Uthrang will stop me from getting it." With those words Maera escaped into a portal. Skana didn't understand anything from what was going on, but at least it made the cogwheels in her mind spin again, albeit slowly. She tried to get up but Skaal wouldn't let her. "No, you should rest, i will take you to the castle and we will see what sanity is left in your mind." Skana fell into a magical induced sleep. Skana noticed someone near her, watching her as she slept. Her eyes were heavy and she needed a moment to collect what was left of her mind. A young girlish voice talked to itself."I never thought i'd see a feral up close." Skana immediately opened her eyes, someone was infront of her. Someone with warm fresh blood pulsing in his or her veins. Someone she could sink her fangs into. The girl spoke to her directly now. "Hello? Do you understand me?" and came a bit closer. Skana realized she was in a cage, again. This made her angry and she snarled at the girl after she got up, realizing she couldn't reach her prey. The feast once again denied. The girl was shocked and jumped onto her feet. "Hey don't try to scare me like that!" After a short pause and apparently remembering something the girl yelled into the rest of the castle. "Mistress! The feral is awake!". A few minutes and footsteps sounding through the halls later, Skaal and a woman Skana didn't knew were standing together with the young vampire girl infront of her cage. Skaal opened the conversation, talking to the woman."What do you think? I sense a sliver of sanity left in her, but she needs blood." Skana just sat there staring through the girl, fighting a battle with her own mind, trying to suppress the bloodthirst that keeps raging in her. The woman examined Skana with glowing eyes and replied "She's fighting her urge to try to rip the cage door apart and get onto Ronaras neck right here and she's doing really good at it. Because else i would have decapitated her by now. That's what i think." with a annoyed tone to her voice. Skaal shook his head. "Skaadi, I went through the coloured rooms to get the dawnbreaker in exchange for her, that was the bargain with Bal, whoever brings him the Dawnbreaker gets to keep the girl. I expected him to turn her, it's his nature but if this was all for naught i'd be slightly annoyed. Even more, if we just throw her out in this state, Uthrang or Maera will get her and that's the last thing i wish to happen. You know how far Uthrangs delusions go when it comes down to gain power and i had an run in with Maera in the cairn already." Skaadi was even more annoyed when Skaal mentioned Maera. "Maera propably ran away as usual, i will savor the day i have her head on a plate in the dining hall." She grudingly told Ronara."Get that useless dawnguard thrall here, i think we might have a possibility here to get rid of that filth." The short vampire girl left the room immediately. Skaadi remarked the collar on Skanas neck. "Looks familiar, but i guess you can't take yours off. This could be fun. We will keep her." Ronara came a few moments later back into the room with a enthralled human. "Here's the dawnguard thrall, mistress." Skaadi drew her nodachi and spoke "Good, Skaal you open the door." now to Skana directly. "And you, one wrong move and i'll cut you in half, you should understand the gesture of a drawn weapon even in your current state. You can have that thrall there, nothing else." Skana was hesitating at first, the enchantment of that sword was reminding her of something she once had in the past, but after letting out an acknowledging snarl she stepped out of the cage. She grabbed the man and sank her fangs into his neck. Voracious draining him of his blood. Her bloodlust intensified every second she drank from the thralls veins. She could barely control herself. When the thrall collapsed dead, she wasn't satisfied, her bloodlust took over and she began to rip pieces out of the dead mans body with her claws and devoured the flesh. Skaadi had sheathed her nodachi again and watched the show, commenting gleeful. "Oh this almost makes me hungry. Watching the first time is always fun and we all know what happens in a few seconds, right?" Skanas mind lept back into reality and her bloodlust subsided. She found herself eating the flesh of a dead man and savoring the taste of it. As she realized this her body began to reject the dead mans flesh and she vomited it on the floor. Skaadi almost cheerfully commented."And there we have it, this happens if your bloodlust takes over, damned messy!" Skana couldn't remember when she felt that good, but she began to remember what has happened to her. "What did i just?..., this wasn't a dream? What in oblivion has Molag Bal done?!" She heard Skaal speaking to her from behind her. "Calm yourself. You might don't see it that way, but Molag Bal actually did you a favor by.... turning you into a vampire. Your servitude as reanimated corpse has ended. The only persons left on Nirn that can command you are me and my wife here, Skaadi. I'm sorry but that was part of the bargain with Molag Bal, your bindings are still unremoveable i'm afraid. My wife will propably exploit this and play a bit around but she won't do you any harm. As for me, i don't intent to use any daedric commands on you, i didn't struck the bargain to have a slave, i wanted to see a kinswoman free. All sentient undead beings are kin to me and i dislike it when they are treatened like garbage." After a short pause he added." Please forgive my manners, my name is Skaal, you might have also heard others speaking of me as the Risen Lord, I'm what scholars call a lich" Skaadi played the annoyed wife at Skaals comment. "Oh come on husband, where would i exploit something so delicious as that? How about i exploit you on the stretching rack instead?" Skana was surprised. "Husband? Wife? You two are... ?" Skaal answered Skanas question. "For 102 years and counting." But directed the spoken word towards his wife again. "Remember what happened last time when we did it on the rack? It broke, half of the room was in pieces and the courtyard was devastated as well. Garan was bickering for weeks how the courtyard he rebuild for the hundredth time was destroyed again." Skana asked herself if she understood what the two were talking about but decided to introduce herself as well. "My name is Skana." But Skaadi and Skaal were already somewhere else in their mind it seemed. Skaal remarked casually. "We get some visitors tomorrow evening, you should rest Skana, let the blood do its work. I have to discuss something with my wife so Ronara will see you to your accommodations. Welcome to Castle Volkihar." Skana barely suppressed the urge to laugh. She thought a bit about where she got into now, it was a lot better than what happened to her before as dead thrall. "I'm not really used to have something like an own room actually." Ronara told her." Well then get used to it, or sleep on the ground, nobody here really cares about it that deep, it's not the Blue Palace of Solitude. Now follow me." while she turned around and left the room. Skana followed Ronara into a large room quite to her surprise. "I actually expected the broom closet." She joked. Ronara commented very dry on it though and came out with a whole lecture. "You could also go back into the cage if you like, you'll even get the key to it. Basically do what you want, except a few things, don't overfeed on the thralls, you will have to learn how to control your thirst but that's for another day. Don't feed at all on Nei, that's the mistress personal thrall, if you want one, get out there and make one for yourself. And lastly, don't touch Ruin." Skana just asked. "Ruin?" "That's the mistress' sword. I'm not sure why she gave a name to it, something about akaviri swordmanship i believe. But since you're wearing that collar i think she wouldn't let you anyway." Ronara replied. Skana felt awkward at getting reminded of that thing around her neck."Thank you for reminding me of it." but asked. "Say, when Skaal said his wife would exploit it to uhm.., play with me, what exactly did he mean?" Ronara corrected her. "That's Lord Skaal for you. As for what Mistress Skaadi would do, i don't know, she's very dominant to say the least, she despises weakness and likes carnage, but since the Lord said she wouldn't do you any harm i think it would come down to some sort of amusement for her. Maybe you have to lick her boots or something else.. i don't know. But don't get your hopes up if you're into women, she won't do anything like that with you, the Lord and the Mistress are both loyal to each other." Skana joked sarcastically. "Too bad, i was looking forward to getting whipped to the heights of arousal." As they both stood infront of a large bed in the room, Skana was surprised. "A bed? I thought vampires use coffins." Ronara just remarked on what Skana said before. "Oh if you want to get whipped you just need to ask, way i heard it the former Lord of the castle liked it to relax, but i'm not into women so don't ask me and the bed is actually a remnant of a moth priest who once erm.. lived here. If you prefer a coffin, those are downstairs." The girl baffled Skana with her blunt honesty and directness so she decided to ask. "How old are you? And how on Nirn can someone find it relaxing to get whipped?!" Ronara looked surprised for a moment but then she brightened up. "I'm 22, or at least i got turned when i was 22, i'm 46 years old now, young even for vampire standards. And you must be even younger, you should know, most vampires handle things like pain a bit different than mortal folks. Something to get the mind off of the thirst sometimes, i for example can only relax when the Mistress scratches my back, gets a bit bloody sometimes though. It's more or less natural for vampires, you'll find that out soon with yourself i'd wager. Now if you excuse me, i'm tired and i want to sleep, it's almost dawn." With those words Ronara went to leave the room. Skana understood now why Skaal said the courtyard got destroyed when he and his wife had some fun there. She leaned on the balcony in the room and threw a question after Ronara as she was about to leave. "Is it bad? Being a vampire i mean?" "I enjoy every minute of it." Ronara closed and left the room. Skana was alone in the room, standing infront of the Bed and spoke to herself. "Never liked beds, I wish they had some furs here to sleep on the ground. I guess either i'm barbaric or just too used to it." She chuckled to herself."Screw this, old habits die hard." And she laid down on the ground infront of the end of the bed. She instantly felt tired and thought a bit about what it means to be a vampire and what Ronara has told her, about what the next night brings and for some reason she missed her palefire greatsword. It was the only thing that was ever really hers in her time of servitude. She fell into a dreamless sleep, like well-fed vampires like to do at dawn.