You are so bloody good at fight scenes that it makes me a little jealous sometimes.

The entire exchange between Asta and Erik was brilliantly done, though; frightening, tense and disturbing in equal measure, and while the magical duel between Marcurio and Vampire Redshirt Kid was fun, that was definitely the highlight of the chapter.

And now I'm going to hold out in the hope that Erik didn't inhale simply because he didn't want to breath in the smoke. That's what I'm hoping for. No smoke.

Not going well for the vampire hunters! Very nice job depicting Asta- she's one scary little thing.

Erik is dead?!?!

Erik the slayer . . . slain!?

Points for the undead, loss for the hunters. A deadly child, Asta. Can't say I'll mourn for the man though. I will honestly say that you've improved in certain areas of you're writing. The battle scenes are great and the narrative is splendid! Good work, Liz.

Well, one coingrubbing vamp down. Also, why am I suddenly thinking that the whole Riften thieves guild is made up of vampires or at least in league with them?

Go go Marcurio! No Erik!


Hmm, when Asta isn't caught flatfooted she really doesn't have trouble handling her sister. Overall, things are looking pretty bad.

@ mALX-Thank you, ma'am!

Colonel Mustard- LMFAO at the redshirt kid! All of Asta's army is expendable to her, though she can't really afford to be so callous with her minions anymore, since the mortals are on to her, now, and keeping their girls locked up safe and tight.

@ Acadian-Yep.

DE-Thank you sir :]

jack cloudy- Nooo, they're not, they're just aware. Sometimes, when you're living underground, you have to live in harmony with the vermin ;]


----------




A ball of molten lava thudded dully against the ward Marcurio threw up. His attention was pulled momentarily from the blonde vampiress assaulting him as the raven-haired miniature bloodsucker sank her diseased fangs into Erik. He turned his attention back to his attacker, calculating how long it would take him to kill this one and turn his attention to Erik.

He took a step forward and summned a fire atronach. Why not? The city is already half cinders, he thought wryly. Instead of focusing its attack on the vampiress in front of him, it turned its attention towards him and held its hands up.

No!

He ducked and rolled, the moisture frm the melted snow seeping into his clothes. He heard a pained scream as a small figure was engulfed in flames...right behind where he was standing. Another building caught fire as an errant fireball from the atronach hit it, and Marcurio's lips thinned out as he thought.

He looked at the blonde vampire, now occupied with the raven-haired one as Erik lie on the ground, unmoving. Blood pulsed lazily from his neck, and Marcurio shot a long-ranged healing spell at him, sealing up the wound effectively enough. It wouldn't restore his blood, but it would keep him from bleeding out better than a bandage or a potion.

Both of the small vampires were dragging a woman away. An elf, by the looks of it. Marcurio had begun advancing, as did his atronach when the raven haired one looked at him. A crackle of lightening erupted from his fingertips, raising the hairs on his arms.

"Em-" The bolt shook the words right from the dark-haired vampire's mouth, and the blonde was hit as the lightening leapt from one body to the next. Unfortunately, the elf was also hit. Marcurio cursed the wayward bolt as the two vampires writhed on the ground. He was out of magick. He quickly uncorked a potion bottle and drank it, replenishing not all, but enough of his supply. When he tilted the bottle back down, they were gone, the elf woman lying on the ground.

She would have to wait. Marcurio ran to Erik and felt for a pulse. He sighed in relief as he felt a faint one. the air was clear around the elven woman, and soon Erik had clean air to breathe as Marcurio dragged him next to her. He then began to work on coaxing Erik to breathe, pressing on his sternum and breathing air into his lungs.

Erik gasped for air a few agonizing moments later, coughing and shaking. Marcurio poured a healing potion down his throat, making Erik cough even more.

"K-Kay-" He was cut off by a fit of coughing. Marcurio shushed him.

"Your throat and lungs are injured. Give the potion time to work before speaking." He looked over at the elven woman, who was unmoving, her eyes closed. he shook his head in regret.

"I could not save your friend. I am sorry."

Erik looked over, tears welling up. Marcurio had seen the look of despair before, but this had surpassed the expressions of broken heartedness he'd witnessed. The woman was unmoving, completely still. Her once golden skin was washed out. Erik spoke softly.

"She's not dead. Not all the way." He reached over and pulled out the dagger, still coughing a bit. Marcurio didn't miss the lingering fingertips on her lips, or the way he traced her jawline with his thumb.

"She would be ash if she was truly dead. I know that now. She's poisoned."

Marcurio's brow furrowed. Judging from the blue veins showing through her pale skin, she was clearly poisoned. But the poison had taken her very quickly. She was cold and lifeless, possibly from a blood-freezing potion. Clearly dead.

"I think you are mistaken, Sir Slayer." He began. "She-what in the name of Arkay are you doing?"

Erik had slid a knife across his wrist, and a lazy stream of blood trickled out. He held it to the dead woman's lips.

"Waking her up."

Marcurio looked at the woman, her pale, blue-veined skin, lifeless appearance. Ash... He took in a sharp breath quickly.

"This is most inadvisable, Erik. Reviving a vampiress with ones own blood is risky."

"She'd be alive."

"She is not alive, she's undead."

The woman stirred as the poison wore off and the blood touched her lips. Marcurio grabbed Erik's wrist. "Let me heal it. She'll drain you in a second, then turn on me."

Erik yanked his arm away. "No! She needs to feed!"

Marcurio let out an exasperated sound through his nose as he lit a quick healing spell and closed his hand around Erik's wrist. "Let her feed on one of the many criminals here! The city is in smoke, and the guards will be here any moment."

The elven woman opened her eyes, and Marcurio saw the red desperation in them as she immediately turned her attention to him. She let out a hiss as she licked the blood from her lips, wiping the stray droplets off and licking her fingers clean.

"Mage!" She snarled, leaping on him in an instant. Marcurio had a spell in his hand the second he hit the ground. Erik let out a startled yell, trying to pull her off of his hired hand. The woman's teeth bit into unyielding skin, her fangs scraping against what sounded like steel. She let out an angry, pitiful groan as she tried to claw at Marcurio's skin, screaming.

"I need blood! I need it now! Give it to me, you filthy wretch!" She turned on Erik when he pulled her off of him, twisting her form around and sinking her fangs into his neck. Erik let out a strangled yelp and attempted to push her off. His armor constricted him from pushing his knees against against her and kicking her off. She suddenly sat up, crying out in pain. She held her head and rolled off of him, writhing on the ground, screaming.

"Make it stop! Gods! My head!" She let out inarticulate yowls of pain as she writhed on the ground. Erik gasped for air and looked at Marcurio, a look of concentration on his face. His hands were out as if holding a ball in his hands, his fingers working. If he flicked his pinky, Kayla whimpered softly. If he pressed his thumb, her hands went to her eyes.

"Stop! You're hurting her!" Marcurio moved away when Erik tried to lower his hands.

"If I do not do this, I cannot placate her."

"I don't know what that means, just stop! She's in pain!"

"Were you not in pain a moment ago? Just hold on."

"What are you doing?"

"Experiment."

"No!" Erik pushed Marcurio's arms down. The spell broke, and the elven woman lay on the ground, sobbing. Her hands were clutched to her heaving chest.

"What were you doing to her?!" Erik demanded.

"Attempting to isolate the part of the brain that causes the vampiric thirst to become overwhelming, and destroy it."

Erik blinked at Marcurio. "Did it work?"

"Well, no, you interrupted me. We may have made her more aggressive, or possibly suicidal. We will tell once she recovers."

Erik carefully walked over to Kayla, and Marcurio readied a spell to harden their flesh. he would need to replenish his magick once he got back to the inn. A thought suddenly struck the mage. Erik was completely unconcerned for his female counterpart, the beautiful Nord, and completely enamored with this elven woman. While elven women were certainly of Marcurio's taste, he preffered that they did not suck his lifeblood. Why Erik was helping this one while he destroyed children vampires was lost on Marcurio. Long lost love or not.

The elven woman has passed out, and the city was now being subdued by mages, rather than allowed to burn. Waters rose from the canal to quell the burning buildings, and they were able to escape the city unnoticed.

Yay, new chapter !!



Erik is alive!!!



Oh no! Kayla is fine now, but what about Emelia?!

Marcurio saves the day, hurrah! Just goes to show that, at the end of the day, it's the fireball-hurling wizard who can get everything done. Usually because they're the group's munchkin

So Erik is once again united with Kayla. I'm honestly not sure whether this is a good or a bad thing, especially when Mjoll gets involved, but it will almost certainly be entertaining to see.

Also, I loved the ending part when you were writing from Marcurio's POV; the writing there felt perfectly fitted to his character, and it worked really well.

@ Liz - You are really stunning me with your Marcurio portrayal, what an AWESOME addition to any team!

Oh Crap! Erik reviving the vampire with his blood - I just read something about this the other day, Kayla could become attached to him through the blood exchange or something!

Very cool scene, and Awesome Write!

This update from Marcurio’s POV is my favorite yet. Great battle!

I'm so glad that everyone is liking Marcurio! We're going to pull away from him for a moment, though, and visit two tiny vampires. I'm sorry it's shorter than the usual.

Where we are: Erik and marcurio just escaped with Kayla. Asta escaped with her cohort, but they are not alone...



-------------



Small nostrils sniffed the frigid air, black curls whipped to and fro, dodging branches and rocks. were she alive, her breathing would be labored at how hard she was running. Close behind, a blonde vampire, her height similar to the raven-haired one's. They both sniffed the air.

"I think we can stop," The blonde child said. Asta halted immediately, and Emelia halted as well.

"No one followed?" Asta answered her own question by sniffing the air. "Good. Report."

"Kayla's abilities-"

"Nisse." Asta's sharp correction was coupled with a hard, red-eyed stare. Emelia gulped.

"Nisse's abilities are remarkable for someone just turned. She can already make thralls and control her thirst enough to where she doesn't kill."

"Interesting. What are her tactics?"

"Coersion through goodwill."

"No seduction?"

Emelia shook her head. "She hasn't touched a mortal... like that... since turning. I think..she's disgusted with herself."

Asta scoffed. "Weakling. She hasn't lived until-" Her nostrils flared. A wretched scent filled her nose. "Werewolf. Run, Emelia."

They sprinted towards a small cave a few miles north east of Riften. Before they had made it a quarter of a mile, they both heard thudding footfalls behind them. Heavy panting was heard, and Emelia panicked and climbed a tree.

"No, you idiot!" Asta shrieked, turning around as Emelia sprang nimbly from limb to limb until she was nearly at the top. Asta grunted as she was slammed against a tree, her head spinning. She slid through the mosterous claws of the beast in time to avoid having her head taken off. Claw marks shredded where her head previously leaned. She easily darted beneath the creature, who whirled around, looking for her. She conjured a dagger and leaped onto its back, preparing to slit its throat.

She let out a piercing scream as the wolf's claws dug into her back, shredding the skin. She grit her teeth, letting out a snarl and slid down the creature's back, allowing it one more long slice alongside her back. Black, clotted gore dripped down her back and onto the frigid, frozen ground. She bared her fangs and conjured a dagger again.

"Beast!" She spat before leaping at the werewolf. It let out an angry snarl when her daedric blade pierced its gut. She dropped to her knees and thrust her blade into its knee, causing the creature to yelp in pain. It fell, roaring. Asta's red eyes glowed in the moonlight, much like the wolf's as it looked at her. Though on the ground, it was still taller than she in height by a full head. It growled at her.

"Disgusting, mangy, flea-bitten filth!" Asta snarled. It swiped at her, then tried to leap at her. Asta easily dodged, side-stepping the lunge and plunging her dagger into its back. She jumped atop a small rise in the land, resembling tiny cliff, making her taller than the wolf.

"You can die here, for all I care." she hissed. She licked the blood off the blade and closed her eyes for a second. "Mmmm. Hircine's favorite does taste delectable. Perhaps I'll simply maim you and leave you alive when you're in a more pleasing form."

"Asta, we need to go." Emelia dropped from the tree, standing a considerable distance away. She eyed the werewolf warily, and the beast picked up on her fear and growled at her. She shuddered and took a few steps away from it.

"We need to go," she repeated. Asta gave her a sharp look.

"Emelia, come here."

Emelia looked at her like she was crazy. She shook her head.

"No. I'm not coming near that thing."

"I won't allow it to harm you. Come."

Emelia cautiously inched her way over to Asta. The wolf watched her with interest, hunger and anticipation as Asta put her hand on Emelia's back.

"Why did you leave me alone with this beast?"

Realization crossed Emelia's face when Asta grabbed the back of her shirt and leaned Emelia forward, just out of reach of the wolf. The beast dragged its leg as it crawled forward, snarling and snapping at Emelia. Emelia shrieked and tried to regain her balance, but realized her only option would be to step forward into the beast's reach and fall.

"Asta! No! What are you doing?!"

"You're a coward. There's no room in my ranks for a child."

"I AM a child!"

Asta lowered Emelia down, the swipe from the beast's claw catching a tangle in her hair and pulling her head forward slightly. Emelia screamed loudly, her arms flailing behind her, trying to grab onto something.

"Please! Asta! I've done everything you've asked of me!"

Asta's dull blue eyes simply blinked as she released Emelia, the shrieks of her former cohort left behind as she walked away.

"No room for weakness." she said as the sound of bones snapping pierced the air. She realized dawn was approaching, and walked away without looking back.

Gah Lizzie! I love your story and I love your names in it!

Asta: A name used in Sweden in the beginning of this century, there are no younger ppl here by that name, but it's awesome!

Erik: A name used all the time here since very long ago! We've had quite a few kings by that name, and...my husband is named Erik as part of his double name: Sven-Erik

But carry on with your story it's really a good amusing read!

Emelia wasn't really Kayla's friend?!


And there Asta goes betraying her own people. Bastard

Oh no, Emelia! Oh no, Urgh!

Such is the traitor's lot, or some nonsense like that.

Damn, Asta is brutal; it's that kind of ruthlessness that makes her such a good villain, I suppose, and it's certainly a great way to raise the stakes (badum-tish!) further.

Also, that was a cool werewolf fight; enjoyed the classic matchup of vampires vs werewolves

The little girl vampires put an interesting slant on the werewolf fight. I wonder whose bones were snapping at the end? Could be the werewolf’s!

Marcurio is an awesomely dashing awesome man yadayada. Now for the important stuff.

*puts on the smug-face*

I totally called it. A deserter from Asta showing up right after Kayla told her she wouldn't do the vampire thing, a deserter who teaches her how to do the vampire thing? Then said deserter just happens to desert Kayla in Riften, aka the place where all the bad things go down and the place where Asta (quite a while back at this point) thought to score big on her recruitement-drive?

Yeah, Emelia was up to no good from the beginning. Too bad her real boss has succumbed to classic villainy, kill your underlings and all that. I actually grew sorta fond of the kid.


Wonder what that wherewolf was about though. Freak random encounter? Standard war in the shadows between vamps and furry men? Companion trying to get into the vamp-slaying bussiness but forgetting to keep his pants on?

Poor Eric. Trying so hard to save Kayla – despite the self-danger.

"Beast!" She spat before leaping at the werewolf.’ - - Coming from Asta, this is truly the pot calling the kettle black!

Sounds like the little turncoat Emelia got what she deserved. Wow, you’ve really promoted Asta up into the ranks of world-class villains!

Sorry for the long delay, everyone. Thanks to those still reading. Being sick and having to wake up at 3 am to get ready for work really sucks. This chapter is under 1,000, so really short. Not napping is kicking my ass.





===





Pain clutched the breast of the young girl, causing ragged, wheezing breaths to puncture the air. She clutched her skin through her shirt, willing her sluggish heart to keep beating. Fever dreams plagued her, visions of her mother torn and bloody, eyes gouged and frozen in a scream, her father strung up by his intestines, her sisters' heads cooking in the pot over the fire while their bodies were skinned and drying in the sun.

She hadn't slept in two nights, not since the creature disguised as a mortal clutched her close and bit her, kissing the spot and her mouth before stealing away. She'd spent the two days in bed, ill, the healer of the town confused. He made a paste to slather onto her chest to ease the coughing, and something to help her sleep. She spat out the concoction in the urn by her bed, knowing what sleep would bring.

On the third night, her mother held her hand, her blonde hair streaked with silver from raising three children and surviving the harsh climate of the North. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw her youngest slipping away.

"Ma," she croaked, barely audible. In the dark, the mother heard.

"Yes, my dove?"

"I...hurt." The words came out as a whimper, as if from a newborn pup. A hot hand touched the girls's brow, smoothing the black hair plastered with clammy sweat away.

"I know. It's alright. If you need to rest, then rest."

The girls's breathing slowed, and her mother clutched the smaller hand to her own chest, gasping as her daughter slipped into death. She wailed as her youngest of three girls died. The house was silent, save for her pained screams. She picked up her daughter and clutched her to her breast, her little body ice-cold in spite of the two thick wool blankets and fire in her room.

Ten minutes passed before the mother gathered herself long enough to put her daughter's body down. As she wiped her eyes, the fingers of her daughter twitched. She turned and held her stomach as she stood, leaning on the back of the chair. The child slowly rose, her eyes red and alight with hunger. The mother left the room, shutting the door quietly, unaware of her child's reawakening.

She opened the door to her room, her husband and oldest sitting on the bed. They looked up with red-rimmed eyes, the father's arm around his daughter as he comforted her. The oldest girl opened her mouth to say something, then saw something behind her mother.

The mother screamed in surprise as her hair was yanked back, and the father jumped up, shoving his daughter over the bed. She hit her head, and the rest was fuzzy from there. She heard shrieks and struggling, the door to the room shut. She shakily stood up and hid in her parents' wardrobe behind her mother's dresses. One long scream pierced the air, and all was silent.

Her breathing sounded loud in her own ears, and her heart drummed rapidly in her chest. Her long legs curled against her chest, her arms wrapped around them, she listened as footsteps walked across the wooden floor of the room. She held her breath when they stopped in front of the wardrobe. Seconds passed, and she wondered if they had left.

The door flung itself open with such force, the hinges snapped, and the oak doors fell with a loud clatter.

"Eeva."

Eeva looked through her hands to see her youngest sister peeking back. She threw her arms around her, forgetting the doors.

"Asta! You're alive! And cold."

Eeva gasped when a hot pain erupted in her neck, shooting deep into her shoulder and making her body feel wobbly. Asta's grip was like iron, and within a few seconds, she passed out.

Not sure wether to feel bad for Asta or not, she was still a child when she was turned

What drove her into evil anyway?

As we witness the death and rebirth of Asta - and her first meal - it really brings home what a horrible thing vampirism is.

This story weaves quite an effective ability to make us both hate and feel sorry for Asta at the same time.

Oh my... ...

I know you're enjoying the other one...Which I'm honestly working around to...But don't forget the sentence, "As this story is drawing to a close" that you put in an earlier post...

You need to finish it!!... ...

That was horrible what happened to Emelia... ...But yeah, double agent!!...Can't decide how I feel about that... ....

Marcurio was awesome...Proper loved all that mage stuff...

I hope you do finish it...Looking forward to how you wrap it up...

Absolutely love your writing...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

I'm still working on a way to wrap it up, don't worry, lol

Sorry for the long delay again, y'all. This is the second to last chapter, and the next will be very long. I won't be holding back on it, since it's the last chapter of Kayla's story.

Thanks for your patience :]





---




Asta attempted to drag her sister's limp body to the cave a half mile from her town. She ignored the chaos the children were causing, intent on her sister reaching the cave with her. Movarth will help. He promised.

She dragged her sister as far as the outside of town, panting heavily. She realized that even though she was stronger, she wouldn't be able to pick her sister up. Her sister was thin, but tall, and dead weight was difficult to carry. She set Eeva down gently, folding her slender hands aross her belly. The chill air allowed small puffs of breath to be seen coming from her parted lips. Asta noticed no such puffs came from her mouth.

She ran to the cave, her pale, bare feet kicking up leaves. She occasionally cried out in pain as a sharp rock cut into her foot, dirt sticking to the bottom of her now raw feet. When she reached the cave, she stumbled inside. The winding passageway, lit by torches, lasted until the passaeway came to an end after what seemed like years later to the young girl.

The sight that greeted her took her breath away. She had seen it in her dreams, but to see it in person was something different. Between two stone pillars carved naturally through time, was a wooden throne set unnaturally by the hands of mortals. But it wasn't the throne that struck Asta with awe, large as it was (four times her height, and six times her width!) but rather the man sitting in it.

Movarth Piquine, despite the Breton name, did not appear to have a definitive race. Sharp features, accompanied by shadow and what seemed like strong magicks, hid any telling racial features. A black hood covered his face, leaving only pale and colorless lips, ivory blades peeking out from behind them. Hs smile, twisted and evil, was terrifying. Had Asta had anything in her bowels, they would've emptied.

"Come, child. Come to Movarth." A slender finger, blue from undeath(Or was he a Dunmer?) beckoned her forward slowly. She obliged, little terrified gasps and sobs escaping her lips. She stopped just at his feet, gaping up at him. He leaned forward, the sile never leaving his lips. He reached down, and Asta swore she could hear the creak of his old bones. (But was he really old? Or was she imagining it?)

She flinched a little when a cold finger traced the left side of her jaw. She relaxed. His smile wasn't so scary, and his voice seemed warm and inviting as he adressed her.

"Asta Wind-Song. The child who started it all. You took first blood tonight. You know that, right? I chose you to be the first. The first in my new army." He gently upped her chin, sending waves of odd sensations through her body.

"Please," she said softly, her tongue thick, her head swimming. "My older sister...I bit her."

"You are quite beautiful," He said, ignoring her. "I've always loved large blue eyes."

She gasped when his lips touched hers.




---




Asta gripped the hilt of the dagger tightly, the leather squeaking. She inhaled, then exhaled slowly, her blue eyes staring at the ground. A head peeked in, strawberry-blonde hair waving gently.

"Mistress?" She looked concerned at Asta's erect posture, the dagger poised to stab an unseen foe. "Is everything alright? You cried out in your sleep. Our magicks detected no unseen enemies." She looked at the messy bedsheets. "A nightmare?"

"I'm fine." Asta said sharply, setting the dagger on the nightstand with such force, it made the girl cringe. Asta rubbed her face with her hands, then looked at the eternally small digits. A red cloud of rage burst in her chest, and she snarled and knocked over the nightstand, making the girl scurry away in fear, passing a Dunmer girl with an eye-patch over one eye.

"Weakling!" the Dark Elf spat before entering Asta's room.

"Mistress." She bowed slightly. Asta stopped her raging to look at the vampiress.

"Report!" She barked.

"She has escaped, is alive, and is with her lover and a wizard."

Asta was silent for a few moments, gazing into the large fire that lit the room.

"The thralls?"

"Here."

"Kill one, and break the spell on the other. Send him to her and lead her to Alcassar."

"Mistress?" The young girl looked confused.

"It's where all this began. And where it'll end, once and for all."

Aw man, only one more chapter left?





Movarth is creepy. Eugh.

I love how you’re building sympathy for Asta even right up to the end. One more chapter?!

Nice flashback to reveal more of Asta’s early days as a vampire. A great touch as we saw that she emitted no visible breath in the cold air.

Another poignant reminder of who and what Asta is, when she later studied her ‘eternally small digits’.

Just as some of the tragedy regarding Asta begins to beckon to our sympathies, she barks her cold orders and leaves us with that ominous last sentence.

I second Kobby's comment about Movarth being creepy. Pedo-murderer-vampire, dayum. Asta's a nasty piece of work, but you put her next to someone like Movarth and make her sympathetic like that and suddenly she doesn't look so bad.

Looking forward to the final showdown; this should be a good 'un.

It isn't surprising that the relationship between Asta and Movarth was largely based on taking advantage of a vulnerable and thoroughly shaken child which may have developed into some form of Stockholm syndrome later on. I mean seriously, inbetween the fits of bloodthirst vampires are still very human. It's a struggle to maintain that humanity due to the needs the vampire-affliction imposes, but especially early on it is there.

That said, this just makes it creepier.


I also found it a nice (and tragic) touch that Asta will never grow up. Now I personally wouldn't say no to eternal youth and all, but Asta's came around too early (and has the aforementioned drawbacks of vampirism.). Even if she could hide her nature, she would always have to deal with the social stigma of being a child.

Holy CRAP! That chapter gave me chills! Asta … and did Eeva live? Urk!

Next chapter: Oh Lizzie, this is one of your best chapters yet – AWESOME WRITE !!!!!!!!

So like...the computer I used to use to write this is long gone, but the ending I had in mind for this is just at the tip of my tongue. I think after five years and some growth, I'll finish Kayla's story.

That is an outstanding idea! Please do!

WOO HOO!

I heard voices before my eyes ever opened. It was, at first, a murmur, then my hearing sharpened. Then a familiar voice spoke.

“We can’t just leave her.� Erik’s voice was fuzzy still. “She’s been through a lot. We have to do something.�

“There’s no cure,� a voice told him. It was confident and gentle. Firm. “This will end one of two ways. Either you die by her hand, or we kill her. It’s that simple.�

I heard Erik’s heartbeat quicken in my own chest. My throat felt unnaturally dry. He cleared his throat.

“I don’t think it’s that simple.� Erik’s voice was determined. I had always admired that about him, but tonight was different. If he left with me, he would die. Asta got the better of me, but she wouldn’t be expecting me to come to her. Willingly. I could strike from her side. Kill her while she slept. Erik continued speaking.

“It’s just not that simple. Kayla wouldn’t kill me. Not once she gets control of her blood lust.�

The man chuckled. “Then myself, possibly.�

I opened my eyes slightly to gather my surroundings. We were in a cave. Another cave. I was tired of caves. Erik and the man sat around a fire, keeping themselves warm. Now that I got a look at the man, I realized he looked familiar. I had seen him around somewhere. I couldn’t lace where, though. He was kind of handsome, and smelled like magick.

“And what about Mjoll?� The man asked Erik. “We just left her in the city, without even telling her where we were.�

“She likely gathered that we left without her.� Erik ‘s face was obscured, but the shift in his posture told me he was likely feeling guilty. I had met Mjoll once before, in Riften. Strong woman. Her sword was nearly as good as Dawnbreaker. “She can take care of herself.�

The man sighed and shook his head. “You warriors and your romanticized ideas of devotion.�

“I’m not sure what that means, but your tone is not something I like.�

Of course the man was right. Erik was being an idiot. As much as I hated to admit it, I was gone. Vampire hunting was in my very bones, and without that, what was I?

I needed a way to get out of there, and quickly. If-

Another heartbeat entered my hearing. It was erratic, panicked. Erik and Marcurio didn’t seem to notice someone was coming. I sat up.

“Someone’s here.�

The two of them stood as a man stepped in. He looked terrified, exhausted, and on the brink of death. His feet were raw and bloodies through his boots, and he had several gashes on his arms. He shook as he spoke.

“Mistress Asta invites you to Alcassar. She trusts you know where that is?� He looked at me. My heart dropped.

“Yes. I do.�

“Thank gods. I can rest.� He sat down and leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes, and his heartbeat faded away.

“He’s dead…� I looked at Erik, who was looking confused.

“He’s dead?� He walked over and shook the man. “Poor guy. Look at his feet. He must have walked for days without stopping.�

“Asta wouldn’t care. Wait, have we been here for days?�

“Yes.� He turned to me. “How are you feeling?�

I rubbed my face. “She knows where I am. Again. Which means I have to face her and end this, once and for all. Erik...you can’t come with me.�

He knelt beside me. “Then stay away. You’ve done enough. Let’s go far away. Someone else can handle this.� He kissed me.

And so we did. Erik and I left the man in the cave, and traveled to High Rock. A group of vampire hunters known as the Dawnguard took care of Asta, cutting through her ranks and killing her. We found a cure, and had several children. I lived with Erik until he was old and gray and passed away in his sleep, surrounded by our three children and two grandchildren.

At least, that was what I wanted to happen. I wanted happiness with Erik so badly, but I couldn’t have it. Instead, I pushed him away.

“No.�

“I’m coming with you, Kayla. You can’t stop me.�

“Technically, she can,� the man said. We had forgotten about him completely for a moment. “She could break your legs, enthrall you, run out of here quicker than either of us could stop her…� He nodded at me. “Marcurio.�

I gulped. “Pleasure.�

“The way I see it,� Marcurio folded his hands on his lap, almost primly. “There is an army of child vampires, and no one knows how to take care of it. Their leader is clever. So we must be clever as well.�

--------

Alcassar was a few days hike, but unlike that man Asta sent, we rested. We traveled at night and slept as best as we could during the day. Luckily, we were waylaid by bandits and I got to feed enough to last me for a while. Marcurio asked endless questions about vampirism, how I felt, how it affected me, how blood tasted, weaknesses. I answered as much as I could. Somehow he still had more questions.

Erik was never more than a few feet away from me, except when he relieved himself. It was almost as if he was afraid I would bolt ahead without him, but Marcurio’s plan made sense. It wouldn’t help me if I got captured and kept as her pet. I felt like Asta would absolutely lock me away somewhere just to have me.

We approached the ruins that looked too decrepit to even bother with. The towers were exposed to the elements, and the main building was caved in. My doing. Outside were sentries that peeked at us through the spaces in the walls. A horn sounded as we walked in.

A dunmer girl with an eye patch stopped us.“Come in peacefully, or I will have you killed.�

“Wow, you’re starting out strong.� I scratched my ear. “We’re here peacefully. I don’t even have a sword.�

With my signal, Marcurio broke a bottle at the dunmer’s feet.We backed away as it began eating away at her feet and legs. She screamed in pain.

“Kill them!�

Marcurio threw his heavy robe off to reveal an entire arsenal of potions. Most were recognized as magicka and healing potions, as well as stamina, but there were many more unrecognizable ones. We had spent days brewing them carefully. He held his arms out as spells flew towards him, bouncing off his ward.

“Get inside, I’ll hold them off!� They closed in on him as we ran inside. I turned back in time to see his ward push out and explode, knocking back those who circled around him. Erik closed the door behind me.

I conjured a sword and crept down with Erik, who had hs out already. The stairs were rubbed smooth with tie and feet walking down them, but not enough to slip down. We heard Asta barking orders.

“Get up there and find my sister. Bring her back alive, kill the others. Especially that damned mage. I want his head brought to me on a platter so I can eat his eyes!�

We hid behind a bookcase while twenty young girls ran past us and into the courtyard. Marcurio had no issues with killing children, as cries of pain were heard as well as explosions. When the last of them were outside, we made our way into the main hall. Cages lined the circular room. On the opposite side of us was a hall that continued leading down into the fort.

Inside the cages were the bodies of adults and young girls alike. They were all obviously dead. Had I been able to cry, tears would have come to my eyes. But I couldn’t, so they didn’t I pressed on.

I heard movement further down, and directed Erik’s attention there. We continued on, the ruins seemingly empty. It wasn’t until we got to the bottom floor did we find Asta, with a contingency of girls around her. Next to her, next to her bed, was a cage with the figure of a girl huddled in a corner. I fumed.

“Asta!� I started forward, and the girls all readied spells. Without turning around, she shook her head.

“I wouldn’t.�

I stopped, my sword in front of me.

“Send them away. This is our fight.�

There was a low rumble, shaking a few stones loose from the ceiling. She sighed.

“I have a few mages of my own, you know. Sure, they look like children, but they have that boost vampirism gives them with magick.� She turned around, her blue eyes regarding me carefully.

“So what was your plan? Burst in here, defeat me, ride into the sunrise with your lover? Or maybe you came expecting to die.� She cocked her head a little as the door shut behind us, several more guards behind us. She smiled a little.

“I really wanted this to work out. You and I, running the most terrifying army in Skyrim. We would make our way to Cyrodiil. Take over the Imperial City. Rule with iron fists. But you’re just as disappointing as Eeva.�

“Eeva is dead.�

“Only technically.� she pointed to the cage. “Her mind is gone, but her body is still moving. As long as you feed her once every few days, she sometimes has lucid moments.�

Red tinged my eyesight. “She’s alive, and she’s caged?!�

“Undead, but yes. When I turned her, she went insane. Couldn’t handle it. She stayed at our house for years, until I came and picked her up.�

Eeva muttered something, and Asta looked genuinely sympathetic.

“Poor creature.�

“Asta, please stop this. This is madness. You can’t take over Skyrim with an army of little girls.�

“And why not? Movarth was going to do it. He trained me to take over in case something happened to him. And I’m doing what he wishes.�

“You don’t have to, Asta. He’s gone. You don’t have to obey his orders.�

“You don’t know what I’ve been through!� She snapped. “What I’ve endured, just to get this far.�

“Asta...he was a predator. He preyed on us. We were children.�

“You escaped. You don’t know. You have no idea what happened in the dark. When we were alone. When I was alone. You were off learning to kill me.�

“I was scared too! Do you know what they did? They branded me, Asta. Sacrificed me to a daedric prince and dedicated my life without me giving consent. I was a child too!�

“So you understand!� Her expression was pleading, and she stepped towards me. “They took us and made us monsters, Nisse. They stripped us of our childhood, and now, we have power! We can change things!�

“Not like this. I can’t.�

Asta’s face went dark. “So that’s it then. I can’t change your mind?�

“I can’t change yours?�

She conjured a fireball and tossed it up and down, as if handling a regular ball.

“I suppose not. I’ll miss you.�

“I’ll miss you, too.�

I deflected the fireball with my sword, and it bounced and hit the bed. Eeva screamed as it caught fire, but no one paid attention to her as all hell broke look.

Erik swung, dodged, and sliced through the girls as quickly as he could, but some were quick. Asta lunged at me and swiped with her claws. I dodged, stepping to the side as gracefully as I could. Asta snarled, her fangs out, eyes red.

“This won’t end the way you want it to,� she snarled. “This won’t end the way you-�

I lit a fireball and shoved it in her face. She crumpled to the floor, then looked up. Half of her face was gone, melted into ash and gore. She let out a feral snarl and leapt on me. Flurries of blows pounded my face as she beat me. My sword was out of reach, and she was much, much stronger than she looked.

She pulled out a dagger and behind me, Erik went down. The girls leapt on him in a frenzy.

“No!� I screamed. The scent of his blood filled my nose, and my eyes tinged crimson. Asta held the dagger to my throat.

“You could have joined me. We could have made them all pay.�

There was an explosion outside the door. It toppled over with a heavy thud, and Marcurio stood there, clothes damp with sweat.

“Am I late?� He threw a firebolt at Asta, who was knocked backwards. I conjured another sword and placed my boot on her neck, and the sword tip on her heart. She suddenly looked afraid.

“Nisse,� Her one good eye looked as if she could cry. “Please.�

“I’m sorry, Asta.�

I stepped away as Asta turned to ash and Marcurio turned the rest of the girls to ash. Maybe it was just me, but she seemed relieved at the last moment. I dropped my sword and turned to Erik. He was lying in a curled up position, bite marks all over him. I knelt beside him as Marcurio administered the cure disease potion and healing potion.

“Are you alright?�

He simply closed his eyes and smiled weakly.

----

I don’t know whether or not they ever found Mjoll. Or if Erik even woke up. When I left, Marcurio was making a potion with his back turned to me. He would find me gone, with a simple message.

“Don’t look for me.�

As for myself, the rest of my existence will be spent tracking down all of Asta’s spies and soldiers. Alone. With Eeva and Asta gone, there was nothing keeping me. Erik will eventually marry a nice farm girl and settle down. If I was careful, we would never meet again.

Holy Cow, she killed Asta? Awesome to have you back writing again!