Daawww, puppies! *Acchooo!* Darn allergies.


The trio of vampire-busting was both touching and funny. I especially like Erik's opinion that killing children (even vampire Asta-gangers), should never become routine. He who hunts monsters and all that. Of course, Uthgherd turns out to be more macho than most men (which given this is Skyrim, is quite impressive).


And Emelia lives! Granted, I'm still not sure if she's for real or just trying to gently make Kayla slide down the slope. I'm guessing the faked the whole dying bit. Hey, if Kayla can do it after getting seriously stabbed, then Emelia can do it after a strangling.


And I didn't really notice the contrast until Burnt Sierra mentioned it. Yeah, the vampire slayers are rather distant to each other and at odds. Meanwhile, Kayla and Emelia are trying to do some surrogate family-bonding. Of course, the ability to do puppy-dog eyes helps.

Sorry for the late update, y'all...it's been a very hectic week. Weeks. Thank you for the comments!!!!




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





Night fell. Erik sat by the banks of a small pond near the inn. It was uncharacterisitcally warm for this time of the year. A wolf howled in the distance, but not near enough to give Erik pause. Lightening bugs and Lunar moths danced just above the glimmer of the pond's reflection, teasing the fish below.

A rustle caused Erik to turn. It was only her dress, that sheer white fabric she always wore. It billowed gently in the warm breeze as the moons' reflection on the pond illuminated her smile. Her hair was longer, almost to her waist. That's how Erik knew this was a dream. Her hair had never been past her shoulders, except on the night he killed her.

He picked up an auburn tress and felt it between his fingers when she sat next to him. She gave him a gentle smile. She tilted her head in such a way that the moonlight illuminated half of her face, shadowing the other in an almost sinister fashion. Erik tilted her face towards him with his fingertips.

"We don't have much time," she said. Erik leaned in and gave her a kiss. She pulled back with a smile.

"I don't need a lot of time." He said. She gave him one of her trademark half-grins.

"I wouldn't boast that."

"Even in my dreams, you can't help but to be snarky."

She smiled, her brown eyes searching his face. Her expression fell. "It's almost time," she said. A long lock of aubrun hair slid over her shoulder as she leaned over and pushed him to the ground gently. The sound of night bugs chirping their song grew louder. The moths danced an intricate and rehearsed dance with the lightening bugs over the water.

He began to panic. "No, listen to me! This doesn't have to happen every night!" He gripped her arms and tried to get up. She was like stone, keeping him pinned down.

"Remember when you were training me, and-" the whir of the mothwings and cry of the night bugs drowned him out. The howl of the wolf in the distance was painful as it pierced his skull. Kayla leaned in, her lips slightly parted. Her fangs peeked from behind full lips. HIs breathing quickened until he was gasping for air.

"No! No!"

She stopped next to his ear, and all at once, the sounds stopped. Except for one.

"I'm...still...alive..." she whispered.

Erik screamed as she tore into him, his blood splashing onto her white dress.

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

When Erik's eyes flew open, Uthgerd had her axe in her hands, ready to jump up, while Mjoll was reaching towards him, a worried look on her face.

"You're getting more violent," She said. Erik sighed.

"I'm fine, it's just the same dream as always."

"The one with the vampire wench you slayed?" Uthgerd asked. Both Erik and Mjoll shot her a sharp look.

"What? You DID kill her."

"Tact, Uthgerd. You lack it." Mjoll shot.

"At least I can sleep at night without waking up and simpering like a milk maid." Uthgerd shot back.

"He does NOT simper!"

"You're right, he bawls like an infant."

"UTHGERD!" Erik bellowed. The name schoed in the cave loudly. "Mjoll, stay down." Mjoll stayed kneeling, her hand leaving the hilt of her blade.

"We'll be going to Whiterun to check in with the jarl in the morning. As for whether you want to stay with us, that's your choice." He gave her a level look. "Wouldn't want to force you to stay in the company of a simpering, bawling infant."

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


Uthgerd went straight to her house as soon as they got inside the gates with barely a word to Mjoll or Erik. She clanked her way down the street and the sound of her slamming her door could be heard from the lowest district. Straight ahead from the gate they entered, down the cobbled road, was The Bannered Mare, where Ma'Dat had hired Uthgerd. Though the old cat was not here with them, Erik had received directions from him.

To his immediate right was one of the blacksmiths, Adrienne. She ran a shop with a family friend. Next to her house was Kayla's old house. To his left, The Drunken Huntsmen and a guard post. The sun was beginning to set, and Erik motioned Mjoll forward. She followed him through the districts, up to the high staircases over flowing water to Dragonsreach.

Jarl Balgruuf dismissed his children when Erik and Mjoll approached the throne. His face had the look of a man with worries well beyond what normal men had to deal with. Erik didn't doubt that the man would have been as carefree as any young Nord had he not bee shackled with the responsibilities that come with power. A balding Imperial man dressed in the finery of the Skyrim noble court stood next to the throne. A dunmer woman with red hair in heavy steel-plated armor had her hand placed on the arm of the throne, her head lowered to the jarl's sitting height, as if she had been speaking to the jarl in a quiet voice.

"Jarl Balgruuf," Erik said, bowing his head. The Dunmer woman in heavy armor eyed Erik and Mjoll.

"Halt," she said in a deep, authoratative voice. The two stopped before they hit the steps to the throne. "What business do you have in Whiterun?"

"We are the vampire hunters, Mjoll the Lioness and Erik the Slayer, coming to offer our services and take care of any unwanted vampiric activity." Erik said in his most respectful voice.

The jarl regarded him for a moment, his brow furrowed. He waved the dunmer women aside. "Stand down, Irileth."

She nodded and kept her narrowed red eyes on them as she backed up the steps. Mjoll wondered how long it had taken her to learn to not trip over them.

The Imperial beside the throne, who had been silent, spoke up. "Vampire hunters? Surely you jest. There are no vampires in Whiterun."

"Not in Whiterun," Erik said. "As far as we know. Have there been any murders?"

A shadow darkened the jarl's face. "Every city, even mine, has their unfortunate accidents."

"Were they children? Young girls, around ten?"

All three court members cut their eyes at Erik. "And what would you know of this?" Irileth demanded, her crimson eyes shining with the anticipation of a fight. The jarl put a hand on her arm.

"Stand down." He turned his attention to the Imperial man at his right. "Proventus, tell them of the murders."

Proventus cleared his throat, and relayed the tale.

-------

Mjoll was still shaking as they exited Dragonsreach.

"Gods," she gasped, tears in her eyes. "Gods! They just...ate...their parents?"

Erik nodded, his eyes trained on the white bricks of the palace walkway. "That's why the jarl seems to keep his daughter under lock and key. Did you see how he sent both of his children away?"

They walked down the steps, where they saw Uthgerd clank her way to The Bannered Mare in a clean set of armor. She didn't even spare them a sideways glance before heading into the tavern.

"It's following the pattern that Ma'Dat had been talking about. Female children, age ten, suddenly falling ill and then their parents being torn apart a few days later. Then the girls go missing."

Mjoll was too busy staring at the house by the inn to hear Erik's words.

"Did you see that?" She asked.

"Hmm? See what?" Erik asked. He followed her gaze. "I don't see anything."

"No, at the house, right down there, near the blacksmith."

Erik shook his head. "Mjoll, there's nothing there. Let's go get a room at The Bannered Mare."

Mjoll followed him uncertainly to the inn. The inn was noisy, crowded, and smelled better than the one in Riften, but still had the faint smell of vomit, overcooked food and the faint trickle of urine. Uthgerd sat in the corner, ignoring their entrance.

"I'll get us some food," Erik said over his shoulder. "Go sit."

Mjoll nodded and sat at an empty table next to a dark-haired Nord woman and what looked to be her husband. The two sat close to each other, speaking in low voices and exchanging a kiss every now and then. Mjoll shot Erik's back a longing look.

She averted her gaze when he turned around, clearing her throat. Erik sat down across from her, his eyes twinkling.

"What?" she asked, suspicious.

He grinned and leaned forward. "Since we've been working so hard, I got us a little something special."

"You mean something besides your terrible cooking?" She teased.

Erik frowned and sat back. "I cook just fine! None of the travelers ever complained!"

"Well, no, but did they ever return?" She covered her mouth to stifle the laughter. Erik grinned good-naturedly.

"Believe it or not, my father is a worse cook than I am. He thinks salt if the only ingredient you'll ever need!" He broke out into laughter. Mjoll laughed along with him. Their food arrived. Mjoll's eyes widened at the sight.

"You..." Her eyes widened in delight as the blonde Nordic innkeeper set her plate down. "You got me grilled slaughterfish?"

Erik smiled and began cutting up his ham. "Just wait for dessert."

Mjoll swallowed the saucy remarks to that statement as she cut up her fish. Erik's eyes rolled to the back of his head as he tasted the ham. Mjoll's armor began to feel uncomfortably hot when he made a small moaning noise.

"This ham is delicious!" He said. He took a swig of beer. "How's your fish?"

Mjoll watched him wipe the droplets of beer from his mouth. She bit her lower lip.

"It is delicious," she said. "Thank you for ordering it for me." She took another bite, rolling the fish around in her mouth before swallowing. She took a long gulp of her own mead before taking another bite. A plate appeared at her elbow.

"A sweetroll?" Mjoll smiled. "The last time I had a sweetroll was back in Riften!"

Erik nodded, smiling. "I know."

Mjoll smiled to herself. Before she could thank him, the dark-haired Nord woman spoke up.

"Erik?"

Erik's head swiveled around, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Lydia?!"

Mjoll isn't taking the child-vampire parent killing thing too well is she?



Earth to Erik: if you keep having that dream, perhaps it means something?! Do I need to get captain obvious down here?!

Oh Crap, Lydia! Erik is liable to get an earful for killing Kayla. (although I fully blame Ma'Dat for her everything that happened to Kayla, and anything that happens to Erik too).

I love Mjoll's inner thoughts about Erik, lol. For vampire hunters, you'd think one of them would realize Erik having nightmares isn't a good thing! Awesome Write!

An effective dream, and you gave us just the right touches to balance between mystery and awareness.

So, it seems Mjoll has a taste for Erik.

Lydia! By Stendarr, this could get colorful!

Woah! This was a great chapter!!

Yikes, what a dream! That moment when the sounds stopped was very creepy.

Lydia!! *rubs palms together*

Ooooh, trouble at t'mill!!...

Sorry...Wrong sketch... ...

I can imagine dreaming about the woman you loved, was turned into a vampire and then you thought you killed is probably not the healthiest thing to be doing... ...

It'll be interesting to see if Lydia takes Uthgerd's place on the team...She's more pleasant to look at anyways... ...

Excellent stuff, as always...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Nope, can't see anything about those dreams Erik is having as being foreshadowing. What a ridiculous idea. As far as I can see, that just goes to show that everything is going to be completely fine and dandy.

And Lydia is here, hooray!


Nah, I reckon Lydia will just join the group and then we'll have ourselves a vampire-hunting Elder Scrolls A-Team; Erik is Hannibal Smith, Mjoll is Templeton Peck, Lydia is B. A. Barackas (she ain't getting on no dragon!) and Uthgerd is clearly Murdoch.

Besides, if you're hunting vampires, you need some crazy with you, and Uthgerd has crazy by the bucketload

I liked the past couple of chapters that I missed while gone. Kayla's a very hungry vampire and Erik's having some nasty nightmares with a strange twist to them. Also, I never thought I'd be so happy to see Lydia again.

Wouldn't Lydia be Peck? A girlman in ever town and all that.

And Uthgerd is totally the tough guy with lots of chains. Hmm, that doesn't leave a spot for Mjoll though.



Also, I wonder how Lydia will take Erik's slaying of Kayla. On the one hand, Kayla went off the deep end and became a vampire. On the other, Lydia did swear an oath and all that.

I just had to ask. When are you getting back to this story, Liz?

I'm writing it bit by bit. I know I'm always logged on on my phone, but I'm rarely around my computer and usually too burnt out to write. I'm about halfway done with the next chapter. It'll be a bit longer than usual.

Thanks for your patience, y'all. Real life has been kicking by butt :/

In case you don't feel like re-reading the last chapter, we were at the Bannered Mare in Whiterun. Mjoll has been filled in on the initiation process for the vampiric girls, Uthgerd has left the group and Erik and Mjoll are speaking to Lydia.

I know the chapter is a little long, but...well, it's been a while.

Enjoy!



-----------




Lydia grinned at Erik as she stood up. She held out her arms and pulled the sitting Erik into a hug.

"How are you? Where have you been?! Where's Kayla? Who's this? Did you dump her for this gorgeous blonde?" Lydia looked over to Mjoll and gave her a friendly smile.

Oh no, Mjoll though. She must not know.

Erik stood up and gently laid his hand on Lydia's elbow. "I think you better sit down. I have some bad news." The look on Lydia's face told Mjoll that she had better go.

"I'm going to go get some fresh air," she said. Erik nodded and Mjoll shot Lydia a sad smile before going outside. Once outside, she took a deep breath of the cold air. She saw a flash of something by the house next to the blacksmith. She slowly walked towards the house, her hand on the hilt of her sword. Were she to pull it from behind her back, whatever was over there would not live long.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


Lydia stared at Erik in disbelief.

"She turned into a VAMPIRE?! How? When-"

"About a year ago. Asta had gotten ahold of her, attacked Rorikstead and nearly killed Ma'Dat."

Lydia shook her head. "No," she said." The man next to her held her hand. She gripped it tightly as the tears fell from her face. "She wouldn't have wanted that. Where is she now?"

"She..." Erik's icy blue eyes misted over. "I put her to rest."

"No..." Lydia put her head in her hands. The dark-haired Imperial man next to her pulled her right hand from her and held it with his own hands. Lydia grasped him, the tremor of her grief traveling between the two of them. Tears traveled from her eyes down the wrist of her hand.

Erik's eyes shone with tears. "I know, I-" his voice broke. "I've never had to do something so difficult. I can't..." He sighed. "I can't stop thinking about it. But she...she thanked me. At the end."

Lydia sniffed and wiped her face with her hands. She let out a weak laugh. "That sounds like Kayla. She would have hated being one of those things. It's for the best." She let out a shaky sigh and wiped more tears from her eyes.

"So, what have you been up to? Who's the gorgeous blonde you're with?"

"Mjoll." Erik sniffed and wiped away a few tears of his own. He nodded to the rugged Imperial man. "Who's this?"

Lydia's face was suddenly joyful. "Erik, I'd like you to meet Sorex. He's my husband."

Erik's eyes shot up in surprise. "Husband? I'd never thought I'd see YOU married, Lydia, since you're such...a free spirit." He changed his wording when Lydia shot him a dangerous look. He cleared his throat and shook the man's hand.

"Congratulations. Any chance we could borrow your wife? We just had an opening in our group."

"Nope." Lydia said. She stood up and rubbed her stomach. Erik noticed for the first time there was a slight bulge.

"Are you..."

"Four months along!" Lydia said with a smile on her face. She looked down at her stomach and sighed. "I've been excused from service from the jarl until I have the baby."

"Wow, well, congratulations!"

Lydia smiled even bigger. "Thank you! I'll tell you, i never imagined myself a mother, especially with the job I have. But now that i'm pregnant, I find myself looking forward to it."

Her smile turned into a playful grin and she punched him on the shoulder. "So, Mjoll is pretty. And strong. You two look like you could handle each other quite well." Her eyebrows waggled up and down devilishly.

Erik laughed and blushed, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I don't think she thinks of me that way. She has a man back home, in Riften. She writes him very often." Erik busied his hands with a tankard of mead and his pocket. He jingled the septims as he gulped his mead. Lydia laughed.

"You like her, don't you?" She gave him a knowing grin.

"Uh, maybe a little bit. I mean, I still dream about Kayla. Going after Mjoll, knowing that in my dreams I'll see her seems kind of creepy to me."

Lydia shrugged. "I hate to say it, but Kayla is gone, Erik. She's not coming back." Her eyes darkened. "We have to move on. All of us."

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


The wind blew forcibly against Mjoll's steel armor, whipping her hair around her face. She spat it out, tucking the strands behind her ears when they continued to blow into her face. She heard a voice, distorted by the wind in her ears. She peeked her head around the corner to the back of the house to see an ethereal form of a man in what looked to be his early twenty in mage's robes kneeling down.

Mjoll gripped the hilt of Grimsever tighter in case the ghost got violent. She looked around, and when she did, the ethereal form of the mage was gone. When she blinked in confusion, he was there again, kneeling. This time, she watched carefully from around the corner as the ghost spoke.

"Where did you come from, little girl?"

He seemed to wait for an answer before nodding. Suddenly, his face contorted with horror and he seemed to try to fend off an attack. He laid on the ground for a moment, twitching, then dissipated.

Mjoll let out a surprised gasp. She had seen some ghosts in her time, sure, but they were always actively trying to kill anything around them. She shook her head in confusion at the sight of the ghost repeating the actions over and over again, asking the same question. She cautiously stepped from around the corner, not wanting to alarm the flickering ghost.

Yay! New chapter!

It's gotta be hard for Erik to break the news to the group about Kayla. The thing is she's still alive I wonder how they'll react of they find out....

Onmund's ghost? Creepy, lol

Congrats to the couple! Funny to imagine Lydia happily pregnant.

It's great to have an update from you!

"I'm sworn to carry your burdens."

GAAAAH! I'll bet the little girl is Asta killing that ghost! Urk, not good no matter what!

I loved what Erik started to say and then changed when Lydia gave him the evil glare, lol. We all know it started with a "B," ROFL !!!

Welcome back, sorry I missed this post yesterday (was working on that mod for Grits's RP). Awesome Write, and Welcome back !!!

Thanks for your little ‘In our last episode. . . ‘ summary. Very helpful, and it’s wonderful to see you posting again.

A painful but welcome reunion with Lydia.

"Husband? I'd never thought I'd see YOU married, Lydia, since you're such...a free spirit." He changed his wording when Lydia shot him a dangerous look.’ - - Priceless!

I had to chuckle over DE’s comment about Lydia being 'sworn to carry your burdens'.

So I’m putting my money with KoB in thinking the ghost is Onmund. I wonder what Mjoll will do or if the ghost will talk to her.


Nit: ‘Oh no, Mjoll though{t}.’

*Taps foot*...Where've you been missy?...Hmmmm?... ...

Well worth the wait though...

Loved it...

Awwww...Lydia's pregnant, and she don't want her new man knowing of her...Free past... ...Sounds about right... ...

And then the bit with the ghost...I loved that it's more like the "Real" theory about ghosts, in that Onmund's trapped in the emotional scar of the event rather than the "Free roaming, self-aware fart" state ...Brilliantly done...

I know you'se busy so it'll likely be a wee while 'till the next bit...But definitely worth it...Glad you found some time to carry it on...

Love it!!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Lydia got married? But she was such a....charismatic woman who easily makes friends wherever she goes.

Huh, I'm kind of surprised the stayed out of touch this long. I guess she was really fed up with Kayla's behaviour so when she got abandoned she got drunk and stopped giving a damn about her oaths long enough to go monogamous and stay that way once sober again.

And Onmund's trapped in dying like a broken recording. I kinda feel bad about that. It can't be pleasant. Maybe it's just an echo. I hope so.


While it is kinda nice to see Erik crushing on his next strong woman, I'm not rooting for them yet. Mjoll's got her Riften guy and Erik needs to work out his issues first. (You just know he's the kind of guy to mutter Kayla over and over in his sleep. Sure, Mjoll knows the story but it's still another woman's name in his head all the time.)

You know, that ending seems like I stopped abruptly... I think I was going to add another tidbit at the end and forgot about it. I dunno. I'l fix it later so it doesn't look like I just crapped a half-ending out.

Where we were before: Kayla and Emelia had picked up a couple of wolf pups the last time we checked on them.

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


Sai and Miriam pawed at Emelia's head while she slept. Emelia blinked groggily, then a smile spread to her face. The sun was setting, and like clockwork for the last few weeks, the pups had woken both myself and Emelia up. They had grown larger and become more playful. Especially Miriam. She barked and yipped, which was not something I was used to hearing from wolves.

Watching Emelia with the wolves reminded me of something painful. Not all of Asta's army were as old as Asta. Not all of them knew better. Some of them were like Emelia, if not most of them. Emelia relished being a child, playing with the pups, her blue eyes alight. When she had to feed, something in her turned off. The bright look in her eyes was gone in a snap, and the look of a calculating predator took its place.

It saddened me.

It took a few moments for the look to fade, but eventually she was herself again. And like he knew, Sai would bound up to Emelia and plant his paws on her chest, and she would dissolve into a puddle of giggles.

We stayed in the cave for a few months, feeding on any unfortunate adventurer that stumbled in. The wolves watched curiously as we fed, cocking their reddish-brown heads to the side at the sound of the high-pitched screams of grown men. They sniffed the corpses and pawed at them, then wandered off. They watched stoically as we disposed of the bodies, and went off to hunt their own food.

One particular night, Emelia asked me an unexpected question.

"When are we going to kill Asta?"

I paused, startled at the question. Miriam cocked her head and whined when I stopped scratching her exposed belly.

"I don't know." I said truthfully. "I...really don't think I'm in any position to actually FIGHT her. I'm...no different than her anymore."

Emelia blinked, her brow furrowed in thought. "No, I guess not anymore. I think that's my fau-"

"No, it's mine. I'm the one who can't help but tear at everything with a beating heart."

I sat on my makeshift bed, made from leaves, grass, and shed wolf fur. The cold, stony cave floor was made slightly softer by the padding, but the chill still seeped through. I sorely missed my bed at my house in Whiterun, the roaring fire downstairs, the warmth of the animal skins against my own bare skin, Onmund's hands snaking around my bare waist...

"You're getting that look again."

I turned to Emelia. "What look?" The wind blew harder, making the mouth of the cave howl loudly. The wind whipped her golden blonde hair around her slender, petite face. Her eyes were a little sunken in, the last time of her feeding edging on a week. Her lips were turning ashen, and she was looking more like a corpse than a healthy little girl. Her fangs poked over her bottom lip, and she wore a look of slight irritation.

'She's really hungry. I have to feed her soon or she'll start snapping at me.'

"That dreamy look you get when you stare off into nothing sometimes. What are you thinking about?"

In spite of the cold, a semblance of heat rushed into my cheeks. Emelia kept her curious look on my face as Sai begged for her attention by nuzzling her hands. She petted his head absently as she watched my face. I shook my head slightly to signal I didn't want to talk about it.

"Nothing, it's nothing."

"I want to know what it is you're thinking about."

"Just thinking about a warm bed. And a bath."

"Oh. That's it?"

No. "Yeah, that's it."

"Oh. I'm getting really hungry."

"I know, me too."

"If we go into the city, we can feed freely."

"If we go into the city, I'll probably eat everyone in sight."

Emelia shook her head. "No, you won't."

"Why not?"

"Because surviving long enough to kill Asta is more important than a few drops of blood." She rubbed Sai's belly.

"Emelia, I can't control myself."

"You're not trying." She looked up at me. "I know you can. If I can, then you can. We're the same."

"The same?"

"Asta made us both. Asta was made by Movarth, who could control himself. The vampires you've been fighting aren't like us." She flicked a strand of hair threatening to go into her eye. "They can't control themselves. Kayla, I hate to tell you this, but there's a complex system for vampires." She furrowed her brow. "Asta called it a food chain. The smart ones get to be nobles, the less-smart ones make little clans, and the dumb ones get killed by people like you."

"Nobles?!" I felt sick. I've never been one to hang around nobles, as I was often viewed as "common rabble," but the few that allowed me into their presences had earned my respect. Jarl Balgruuf, for example. It sickened me to think of him sipping blood with his evening meal while his children sat at the same table.

I shook the disturbing image from my head and looked at Emelia. "So, what are we? Hunter fodder?"

"I guess so."

"I don't like the idea of that."

"Me neither. You stink."

I frowned. "Well, so do you!"

"I know." Her pale lips curled upwards in a small smile when the wolf pup's legs twitched in satisfaction at her belly rubs.

"If we were to go into town, we couldn't go like this." I said. "People would take notice. We're covered in blood, our hair is a mess, and we look like we're dead."

"We ARE dead."

"That's beside the point. How have the vampire nobles stayed undetected all of these years?"

"They probably feed on a regular basis and know how to control themselves."

"Exactly."

"I can control myself." Emelia said with pointed look at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Look, I'll try, okay?"

"Yeah, I know. But we gotta do it fast. Hey, I'll even teach you how to only take a little."

Take a little? The idea sounded absurd to my ears, but deep inside it's how I wanted to live. Was it? The constant conflicting emotions wore down on me. Was I a killer for purpose, or a killer for my own satisfaction?

I had long ago, mulling over the thoughts that I couldn't escape on the frozen nights in the icy cave, came to the conclusion that I was a killer. Always had been. I'd killed bandits, vampires, draugr, and even the Dark Brotherhood on accident. Not all had been in self-defense. Most vampires had been shut away in caves, forts, old ruins, perhaps to hibernate away the years until the war subsided. Yet I sought them out and ended their unlives, simply because Meridia...no, compulsion. Compulsion drove me.

After a year and a half of feeding off of hapless adventurers, and after spending half my life killing those who did what I now do, I had to wonder if there wasn't some sort of sadistic lunacy in my former life. I wanted to survive, and the only way to do that was to take from another. The question rose in my mind, and my breath caught in my throat with a hitch.

Was there a chance that I was the bad guy?

I can't help but feel bad or Kayla. She doesn't even know whether she's good or bad anymore. She needs to step up and go after Asta though. It doesn't matter what side she's on as long as it isn't Asta's. if only she'd realize that...

Kayla asks herself an excellent question. She’s certainly one of the bad guys now, at least in her old context. Perhaps it’s her new context that makes her think she was bad to start with. That’s the kind of thinking that could lead to a long walk in the sun, but I’m sure Emelia will help her get herself together.

It was great to get an update on your story!

Ooooh, fair dues...Nicely done that...

While I got that she was a child-vampire, somehow I thought of her more as a grown-up in a child body...But yeah, she's very childlike...Nice one...*Applauds*...

Loved the way the wolves kept weaving in and out of the episode...Loved that...



Well, even now she doesn't feel like one...Even with the admission of feeding on the unwary traveller...

Brilliant writing, as ever...

Loved it...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Emelia is an adorable little predator who can be dissolved into a puddle of giggles by a puppy. I really like how you portray her.

The wolf youngsters were nicely incorporated as a bit of action in what was a wonderfully quiet scene of discussion, thought and self-doubts.

Vera Kayla is wrestling with being a predator with a conscience. It feels as if she is approaching another fork in her path. One trail is very dark indeed; the other. . . less so perhaps.

EDIT: Oops. Thanks, Liz! Musta got distracted while typing.

You mean Kayla, Acadian? XD

Oh and my review will come shortly!

I don't remember posting this yesterday...OR replying. It looks like I did both, though, lol

I read that about Jarl Balgruuf and had to race to the WIKI to see if that was part of your story or real - and ended up finding the "Whispering Door" quests - looks like the children were the ones drinking the blood at the table, lol.

Holy Cow what a chapter! Especially at the end when she is introspecting herself right up to that last line - HUGE HUGE Write !!! Awesome Chapter!!!

Yeah, I didn’t envy Erik when he had to tell Lydia. Their conversation was kind of ironic though, knowing what we do about Kayla’s activities.

Funny, I had to google Sorex, and that turns out to be the name of a shrew. Appropriate for someone that worked at the Winking Skeever.

Kayla’s living in a cave for months, feeling defeated. I do wonder what the end of her story will be. It’s so human of her to wonder if she’s the ‘bad guy’ now when she’s doing exactly the things she used to oppose.

So sorry for any lack of acknowledgement for my readers! I've been pretty frantic lately. I hope you enjoy this...slightly awkward chapter.

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

"See anything yet, Victus?"

"No." Came the answer in the same hushed tone. "I think-"

A wolf howl split the air of the cave, and the two froze, the clanking of their steel Legion armor halting abruptly. When another howl pierced the frozen air, Victus turned to his partner, a knowing look on his face. He signaled Tyroni forward, and the two advanced, shields up, swords ready. They advanced into the cave, something was was supposed to be their camp during a long hike to Solitude.

They were not ready for the command spells that hit them straight in the faces. Nor for the little girl with ashen skin , white-blonde hair, and red eyes appraising them hungrily. She was dressed in dark clothing, something that used to be fine, but was so worn and dirtied it might as well have been a burlap sack washed in mud. As she approached, they were hit with a horrible stench of decay, but unable to gag.

She said something lightly in Nordic, her red gaze traveling behind her. A High Elf woman with long, waist-length auburn hair, peeked out from behind the rocks. When she dipped a once-golden foot, noticeably bare to Victus, unregarded to Tyroni, two reddish-brown wolves lumbered out.

Neither Victus nor Tyroni spoke Nordic, both of them assured that they wouldn't need to speak to the Stormcloaks to kill them, so the conversation went over her head. The little girl, Victus pinned her as Imperial, gestured towards the men, still standing casually at the end of the cave hall. The Altmer shot them a hungry look, her eyes giving them each a once-over before looking at the girl. Victus figured her to be around the age of ten. Tyroni continued to stare at the High Elf.

Finally, the Imperial girl spoke to them, her voice without any shred of an accent of the province they were in.

"Take off your armor, and leave your underclothes on. We have warm clothes for you. You won't need your armor."

The two complied as the Altmer woman grabbed clothing from a knee-high pile on the floor. The little blonde girl stared at Victus, a hungry look in her red eyes. When the Altmer woman found clothes to her satisfaction, she set them down at a close distance, but not within grabbing reach, of the two men. She averted her eyes, looking at the two wolves lying languidly on the floor near the girl's feet.

The girl sighed. "Put the clothes on." They obeyed, and as they dressed themselves, she continued to speak. "You'll be warm, and we'll try our best to not kill you. Or at least, I will." She shot a look at the High Elf woman, who gave her a confused look. She asked a question in Nordic, but the girl shook her head and gave a dismissive reply. The High Elf woman looked at them both with hungry eyes, her pale lips slightly parted to show the slightest glint of sharp ivory.

Then it dawned on the men what was happening. Victus' eyes widened as his confusion made way for fear. Not just any fear, the type of fear that wormed its way from your stomach and into your limbs. The type that seizes your mind and turns it to a gibbering pile of mush. The feeling intensified as the girl commanded him to kneel, and the High elf woman stepped towards Tyroni.

Soft flesh yielded way for razor sharp pain, and Victus' cries were muffled by the command spell. He fought against the spell with all of his might, but he had no skill against magick. When the girl pulled away momentarily, her face was fuller, her eyes blue, and her skin more flush. She said something in Nordic to the High Elf and promptly healed Victus' wound.

The elf took her cue, watching curiously. The smaller girl seemed to be giving the older woman instructions, as the woman nodded and lit a healing spell between her fingers. She lowered her mouth to the other man's neck, and Victus could see the fear in his brother's eyes. Tyroni's eyes clenched when the woman's fangs pierced his skin. There was a sudden change in her demeanor. She closed her eyes and wrapped Tyroni in what was an almost loving embrace as she drank. She stroked his hair with one hand as the other pulled Tyroni closer to her body, making the bite more...intimate.

Indignation rose in Victus' throat while something else rose from Tyroni. The elf's eyes popped open and her red-lipped mouth was open in surprise as she looked down. Victus could have sworn she blushed.

The Imperial girl blinked and opened her mouth to ask the elf a question, but the Altmer woman had already begun shooing her away. She spoke to the men in halting Cyrodiilic.

"Shame!"

She ushered the girl away, who protested in the harsh language of the Nords.. The Altmer woman's admonishments had the girl scampering away. The elf turned towards them again, her face twisted in anger.

"Innocent! Girl is innocent!" She shook her finger at Tyroni. "I eat you, not pleasure! Shame!"

The only thing Victus could manage to think through his terror was the nerve of some haughty elves. The woman was living in filth with two wolves, piles of clothes at the foot of her bed, sucking on some strange man's neck and she got angry with Tyroni for liking it?

Granted, he couldn't see the attraction in having some elven wench suck the life out of you, but Victus knew Tyroni would find the woman attractive. And had they not surprised them, Victus knew that Tyroni would have convinced the woman, either through charm or more forceful means, to bed him. Either way, the woman looked like she could use a good roll in the hay. And a bath. But Tyroni wasn't too picky. Victus had turned his head when Tyroni had his way with a Forsworn wench, who was more than willing to pleasure Tyroni in exchange for her life.

The elf sighed and put her face in her hands, an oddly human gesture for something that was just moments ago, trying to drain Victus' brother. She turned around, her bare feet softly padding on the stone floor, as she walked away.

Out of the corner of his eye, Victus saw Tyroni stretch his arms. His hand went up to the wound in his neck, an incredulous look on his face. Victus' limbs began to loosen, and he too stretched. The vampire woman stiffened as she heard their movement, but Tyroni was already on her. He pressed her face to the wall and held her hands to her sides. She screamed and snarled, her eyes red and wide with fear.

"Get the girl!" Tyroni yelled.

Victus grabbed his sword and ran for the small blonde.

And Kayla's reaction




Lol. I love it how she got pissed, lol. It's nice to know he doesn't play with her food though XD



Oh no! Fight back! Run!

Dinner gone awry! This was effective in that it continues to show the passage of time and how Kayla has been slowly adjusting to undead life (?) as a vampire at the tutelage of her young companion. And we see that the wolves are now grown.

What a scene! This was riveting from beginning to end, and ends on a cliffhanger! Awesome Write !!! Loved this chapter!

Interesting use of the Command spell. Overlooked, and brilliant when used.

Whaaaaat? I’m still wondering if these two are going to live. She’s fine with killing people in front of her, but one of the men gets excited and she’s got to leave!?

Now there’s a twist. Good chapter from a different perspective.

Interesting to get the prey’s view of Kayla’s den. She’s definitely struggling between mortal and vampire priorities.

Time sure flies. It makes me wonder if the problem isn't so much 'stop Asta before she assembles her army' as it is 'stop Asta's army'. Unless the formidable trio or duo have really been making a killing.


And just when I was going to see the legionnaires as poor victims, you had to mention a rape-tendency. Ah well, it means I can keep rooting for the awkward vampiregirls and their cute ex-puppies.

So my updates are becoming less and less far apart, but till not as regular as they used to be. That's due to the influx of my workload, then suddenly losing my job.

Tis good, though. I needed the break. And the sleep. I slept a LOT, hahahaha!

Anyways! Thank you for your comments, patience, and of course, continuing to read.

@Acadian: Yeah, I'm sort of playing catch-up with Kayla's side of the story. Erik and Mjoll are caught up, I'm just showing Kayla's journey on her wait to their "present."

@KC: I LOVE the Command spells. Just adore them. There are others I'd like to delve into, but can't with Kayla, since she isn't too much into magick. Maybe with another character...hmmmm...

@Grits: Definitely struggling. Shes trying to hang onto what she views as a sliver of humanity while battling with her thirst. Part of her wants to accept what she is and embrace her new identity, but the other part, the Kayla part of her, isn't going to accept it and will continue to fight it.

@jack cloudy: There are some good and decent Legionnaire soldiers in Skyrim. They just didn't stop by Kayla and Emelia's cave, lol!

As for the passage of time, like I mentioned, I'm just playing catch-up with Kayla and Emelia. Soon they'll be on the same page as Erik and Mjoll.



What happened before: Mjoll saw the spirit of Onmund behind his and Kayla's old home.

Mjoll threw open the door to the Bannered Mare, breathing raggedly. Mst of the patrons jumped, startled, but turned back to their drink and conversations. Erik stood up and met her halfway across the room.

"Mjoll, what happened?" He asked.

"I saw a spirit," she said, gripping Erik's arm. Lydia came up beside him, trailed by Sorex.

"Thats Onmund."

Erik's brow furrowed. "Kayla's husband?"

"Yeah, as in, the one that her sister tore apart. He started showing up and doing that about a year ago. The priests are stumped by it. They say he's just an echo, not an actual ghost, so there's nothing that can be done."

"An echo?" Mjoll repeated. "That explains why he didn't attack when I came close. He just sort of...disappeared, and wafted away."

"He'll do that. Some of the local kids even have contests...well, they DID have contests...on who could get the closest before he disappeared. But with the curfew and the recent murders, no kids are allowed out after dusk."

"Who lives at that house?" Erik asked. 'An echo?'

"We do," Lydia said. "When I came back, I bought the house from the city. Apparently the person Kayla had sold it to didn't like an apparition flickering in and out of sight at night. So I bought it, really cheap, and ignore him." She grinned. "I'm not superstitious."

Lydia continued. "Anyways, you two should relax tonight. Have a few drinks, maybe rent the same room to avoid spending too much."

Erik shot her a sharp look, and she grinned. "Hey, just looking out for my second-favorite redhead." She pinched his cheeks and laughed when he swatted her away. Erik didn't miss the look of sadness that flitted across her expression momentarily.

"We should go. The smell of piss and vomit makes me nauseas. Bye, you two! Come see me before you leave." Mjoll waved goodbye as the couple sauntered out the door, their arms linked. She turned to Erik when the door closed.

"What are we going to do about a third member?" she asked as they slid into their seats at the table. Erik shook his head, his green eyes crinkled with worry.

"I don't know, Mjoll. I really don't know. If Uthgerd doesn't straighten up, then nothing."

Mjoll sat straight up. "Wait a moment. I think..." She grinned, her face illuminating beautifully.

'She's lovely.' Erik thought.

"There is a wizard in Riften. Marcurio. He has been hired by several adventurers who say he is wonderful when in battle. Maybe that's the edge we need, Erik. Fight magick with magick."

Erik pursed his lips, then shook his head. "I don't like magick."

"Neither do I, but Erik, think about it. If we have a mage on our side, he can sense any magickal traps we come across. Remember that one trap? The shock one on the ground that none of us could sense because we don't use magick? The one that nearly killed me? We were stuck in that cave for days, waiting for me to recover. We can't do that again."

Erik thought for a moment, swishing his mead around in the silver tankard. "Let me think about it." He took a large gulp of his mead as Mjoll drank her wine down.

"I don't blame you." She said. "Wizards are unpredictable and difficult to deal with. But if we pay the man, he should comply."

"Payment only goes so far." Erik ordered another drink, and Mjoll did the same. "You can pay a man five hundred septims to accompany you, but can't force him to stay once things get out of hand."

"That is true." Mjoll admitted. "But from what I've heard, this man doesn't back down."

"Then why is he in some tavern in Riften, begging for mercenary work?" Erik asked before downing his beer. Mjoll sipped her wine thoughtfully.

"I've heard he's a bit over-zealous when it comes to his spells." she said. "And a bit of a know-it-all..."

Erik groaned. "I HATE know-it-alls. He's out, then."

"Erik, he might be just what we need. We need to be offensive...or...what's the word?"

"Mjoll..."

"No, no, I know what it is..."

Erik gulped the rest of his beer down and waited for Mjoll to remember the word. When he realized she couldn't, both of them already had several drinks on them. He decided to switch topics at that point.

"So, how's Aerin? Gotten any letters from him?"

"No, oddly enough. I think the courier is having difficulty finding me. No matter."

"What's wrong?"

"He...seems to have feelings for me that I do not return. I explained this to him in my last letter, and...I expect he stopped sending me letters. But like I said, it doesn't matter. He's in Riften, and I'm here."

Mjoll couldn't interpret the look Erik was giving her. It looked like a mixture of disappointment and relief to her, but she could be wrong. She hadn't told him he was the reason she resisted Aerin's advances this past year.

But that did not matter. Erik didn't return her feelings, like she didn't return Aerin's. Everything came full circle for her. She suddenly drank the rest of her wine and stood up, startling a drunken Erik.

"Whoa, you going somewhere?" He asked.

"I'm going to bed. You should too, we...probably shouldn't have gotten so drunk."

Erik grinned at her and she laughed and pulled him up. The Nords were sharing a room, but decided against sharing a bed. They each looked at the bed, then each other.

"You take the bed." Erik said. "I'll sleep on the chair."

"No, I took the bed the last inn. You take it."

Mjoll looked at Erik, a slight smile on her lips. Erik raised his brow.

"You have this weird loo-"

Mjoll shoved him onto the bed, causing him to yelp in surprise. She laughed and uncharacteristically pointed her finger at him, which he promptly growled and grabbed, pulling her down next to him. Erik could almost see Lydia's brow raising, with that grin of hers spreading as Mjoll erupted into yet another uncharacteristic peal of laughter as she grabbed his head in a headlock and gave him a noogie.

Erik flailed for a moment and pretended to pass out. Mjoll laughed and let go, then shrieked as Erik suddenly pushed her off the bed with his feet. Both of them held their stomachs as they laughed, letting out a year's worth of tension, with Erik on his back on the bed, and Mjoll on her side on the floor. Mjoll stood up and shakily went to the washroom, still laughing.

When she came back, Erik was out of his armor and under the bed covers, half asleep. She had taken off her own armor in the washroom and slipped in next to him without thinking. Their bodies molded to each other for warmth as they fell asleep.

So Onmund's "ghost" is pretty much just stuck in that one part of his life, eh? Cursed to relive that scene over and over again for the rest of eternity? Poor dude




So, Erik's got a new love intrest, eh? Finally getting over Kayla's "death"? Good for him

I'll bet Mjoll wakes Erik up with a surprise, ROFL !!

I liked the idea of the "Echo" - and that Lydia didn't care about it, just ignored it. Very interesting development with that!

Was there a bit of head-hopping between Erik and Mjoll? I may have been reading that wrong, but it seemed like we were getting into both their heads there.

I got a laugh out of Mjoll saying she wasn't interested in Aerin - YouTube tells a different story on that for anyone that has ever married her, lol.

The possible introduction of Marcurio is very interesting too, and Mjoll described him well from all I've heard of his character!

Awesome update!

PS - GAAAAAH! I get no comment thanks? What am I, chopped liver? ROFL !!! (Just kidding).

I did skip you, didn't I?!!

MALX YOU'RE TOO AMAZING FOR WORDS!! LOOOOOOOOVES! <3

Lol, "Aaah, that feels better!" ROFL!!

Hey if you are bringing a wizard into this, you should get J'Zargo!

The ending was nice. Funny that they both think the other doesn't like them that way. I wonder how often that's the case though?

Ah, so the ghost is/was Onmund. Like mALX, I like your use of ‘echo’ to describe the phenomenon. Lydia hasn't changed: She was not impressed by Onmund in life - or after.

Recruiting a mage into their team is a great idea! Every band of adventurers should have one. After all, nothin' says lovin' like a fireball from the oven!

A little mead, some wine, noogies on the head and crawling into the same bed to keep warm. . . a fun and cute scene.

Brilliant stuff...Loved the scene with the Imperials in the cave...The language thing gets me in the stories...I never once thought about all that...*Applauds*...

Gonna be nice to read her tearing them to pieces... ...

And then the scene in the inn was brilliant...Still loving the echo thing...The Erik/Mjoll thing was cool...Takes me back to a Travelodge just outside Glasgow in March '94... ...Awwww...Those were the days... ...

Aaaamywho...

Brilliant writing, as ever...

Really looking forward to more...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

Oh dear, will Erik ever join the bed with a woman when they aren't dead-drunk? Two to one says they'll try to brush it off as a mistake the following morning.


And J'Zargo is a fun little kitten, but he seems to be lacking in firepower.

Wow, been really busy! so sorry for the delay!!!!

Where we last left Kayla: The command spell had worn off and Tyroni and Victus attacked Kayla.



=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=






I let out a pained cry as the cave wall bit into my face, pebbles and bits falling from where the Imperial man crushed my body. He yelled something in Cyrodiilic in my ear, but not to me. When I tried to wriggle free, desperately calling for Emelia, he pushed more of his body weight against me. I felt him poke just under my rear, his breathing ragged. He outweighed me by a lot, as I had been starving for almost a year now, only occasionally feeding. I was gaunt and weak. He wasn't.

My breath came in gasps as I felt him shift his weight to allow himself to pin my arms behind me. 'I can't do this, gods, please, don't let this happen!' I begged silently. He tried to spread my legs apart with his knee and slackened his grip, allowing me to slip one hand out. I desperately tried to elbow him in the nose, but he was too short for me to reach, and I was in no position to stretch.

The man yelled for help from his companion as my arm flailed about, trying desperately to injure him. He screamed in pain when I caught a handful of his hair and yanked. He instinctively pulled against the force of my yank, causing him to release the weight from my upper body. That was all I needed.

I twisted my body to face him and sank my fangs into his neck. I closed my eyes as the blood sprang into my mouth, then opened them again as I became suddenly aware the he was trying to reach his sword to my left. I kneed his groin after pulling away, then pinned him to the wall.

"You don't like it when others take advantage of you, do you? How do you like being pinned?"

The look on the man's face was sheer, uncomprehending terror as he struggled to understand my words. His breath came in short, ragged gasps and he began to grasp what was about to happen to him. I leaned in to drink the blood pulsating from his neck when I heard a firm, small voice.

"Kayla."

I looked over and saw Emelia standing beside the Imperial man who had chased her. He stood stock-still, is eyes glazed over with the effects of the command spell.

"He tried to rape me, Emelia."

"I know. But why not practice on an awful man like him, instead of the decent folk in a town?"

My throat tightened with the desire to quench my thirst.

"Just a little at a time, Kayla. Just enough to make you look normal."

I took a gulp of breath and healed the wound on the man's neck. I threw him onto the cave floor as the wolves came back into the cave.

"Mangy bastards! Why weren't you here ten minutes ago?!" I yelled. Sai cringed and slunk towards Emelia while Mirriam cocked her head at me. She ignored me when I bared my fangs at her when she nuzzled my hand. I reluctantly petted her.

"Fine. Sorry." I said, the irritation still evident in my voice. Emelia soothed Sai as the man tried to get up. I put a bare foot on his throat, causing a startled yelp from him.

"Stay." I hissed in Cyrodiliic. He nodded, his face pale with fear. I sneered at his lower lip trembling and walked to my bed.

"I'm taking a nap. Can you handle these two?"

"No problem."

I laid down, throwing myself down with more force than I intended and hitting my shoulders. I clenched my teeth and let out an angry grunt. Miriam wormed her way under my arms and let out a sigh, her warm breath puffing straight into my face. I sighed.

"I'm sorry." I murmured to her nose. The icy cold tip of her nose nuzzled the spot under my chin and I smiled, petting her head and rubbing her ears. "I know I'm cruel sometimes, but it's the thirst talking." I whispered to her. "You know I like you. Sometimes."

Mirriam sneezed in my face and I pushed her away, screeching.

"UGH!"

Emelia cracked up.







-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=







Weeks went by with Emelia coaching me on controlling my thirst. Suddenly I was very aware of why vampires kept thralls in their presence. The two Imperial men's constant presence didn't dull the thirst, but allowed me to keep my desires in check when we scouted a nearby village for food for them. I passed up several dozens of opportunities to drain someone dry, but instead gritted my teeth and walked by with a clenched smile on my face.

The only time I lost my control was when someone tried to pickpocket me. Emelia didn't blame me for that one. Much.

We were able to get basic supplies as well, needed to grooming and dressing. My hair had grown to my waist, and I was able to cut it to its original length and shampoo it at an inn in the village. Emelia charmed her way into the home of a couple for a few days, much to the annoyance of Sai, and had them buy her new clothing and footwear. I used what I needed and left without harming anyone.

"I've been thinking," I said to Emelia on evening.

She looked up from her bed. "What?"

"I think we should head to Riften. I've got my thirst under control now, and we need news about Asta."

"We could go into any major city and do that."

"Yeah, but there's someone there I need to talk to."

Niruin.

The bastard that betrayed me at his advantage. My life, my mortality, cost him a few bags of gold and a broken nose. I'd been plotting on ways of getting him back, things I would ask him.

"Why" was out of the question. I knew why. Money. That was the language of thieves, and all they ever knew. No morals, no goals or aspirations to make the world a better place, just money. They didn't care whose money, where it came from, as long as it wasn't taken from them.

Emelia had brought me close to Ivarstead. She confessed she was trrying to take me to The Pale, but my random bouts of thirst-induced insanity made me a difficult traveling companion. Once we agreed to head to Rifte, we were produced with a dillema.

"What are we going to do with the men?" I asked.

Emelia shrugged. "Keep them?"

I laughed. "What? And do what with them?"

"Well, they're thralls. They obey only us. They won't betray us, or talk or act unless we tell them to."

"That's the problem. Don't you think people will think it's weird when we're whispering commands at them?"

Emelia thought for a moment. "Yeah. Should we make them stay here?"

"No. I've seen thralls act out normal lives during the day. Let's have them do that. Act normal, I mean."

Emelia turned to the men. "Act normal!" she said in Cyrodiliic.

"No, Emelia, you can't just say that."

The men groaned and stretched, then blinked at us, their eyes still holding the glazed look. One sat on the ground after grabbing one of my books, and the other began scratching Sai's ears. I gawked, my mouth agape and eyes wide.

"I guess you can just say that." I walked over to the taller one. "You jump." I said in Cyrodiliic. He jumped once, a confused look on his face.

"Now, jump again, and use the book as a hat." I said in Nordic. He obliged. I let out a squeal of surprise.

"Oh my gods! Emelia, I don't have to speak the language of the victim! This is great! Stop jumping."

The man stopped jumping, and I took the book off of his head and handed it to him. He took it and stared up at me, an unreadable look in his eyes. I blew out a puff of breath and bit my lower lip.

"We should head to Ivarstead and gather supplies tonight. Enough food for them, and some septims for when we get to Riften. I don't know about you, but I can't charm a thief into giving their gold over."

"Are we staying inside the city walls?"

"Yeah. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of caves."

"Me too." The man next to me said. I shrieked, jumping into the air. Emelia laughed, doubling over.

"Your face-"

"Come here!" Emelia giggled as we bolted through the cave. She shrieked when I caught her, and flailed when I tickled her. The men watch with disinterested faces as I merciliessly tickled Emelia, the wolves bouncing playfully around us before turning on each other and play fighting.

I see Kayla and Emelia are having fun with thier new thralls


So Niruin is gonna get Whats coming to him, huh? I hope Kayla gives the bastard a good bop in the mouth