Ice Veins

A dark eerie trail stretched before Twilight as she walked through the Everfree forest: the trees had strange shapes and cast very creepy shadows in the moonlight. In the distance; she saw her friend Zecora’s dwelling, a large hut in a clearing in the forest. Somewhere in the tree line a twig  snapped, making her eyes go wide with fear and making her move quicker and quicker until she reached the hut’s door and knocked frantically as she heard footsteps plodding methodically through the forest: where they were coming from she could not tell.

“Zecora! Zecora its Twilight! Please let me in!” she said frantically. To her horror, there was no answer. Then, the fog rolled in.

The wispy mist was so thick that it could be cut with a knife: and Twilight felt a sudden sense of dread as she saw a dark shape move through the fog at terrifying speed. Her breathing became panicked and she began to feel a cold sweat forming on her brow. She began to feel complete terror when a voice whispered eerily out of the fog.

“Twiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiight…. Twiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiight…”

Her eyes were wide as she saw a tall, robed, two legged figure walk out of the thick fog; red eyes glowing with an insatiable hunger. It stalked towards her; an evil grin spread across its deathly pale face revealing two sharpened canine fangs. The lavender unicorn froze as the vampire reached out towards her; complete terror overtook her and all she could do as the creature sank its fangs into her neck was scream in complete terror as the creature drained her of her blood.

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Twilight gasped for air as she sat bolt upright in bed with her eyes wide and soaked in sweat. The lavender mare checked the area around her throat and sighed in relief when she found no blood or bite marks.

“What an awful dream.” she said to herself as she hopped quietly out of her bed. Spike was still sleeping peacefully in his basket; the adorable sight of the sleepy little dragon made Twilight smile.

She decided that her dry mouth and throat warranted a drink of water and quietly made her way to the stairs with her horn casting an illumination spell.  As she made her way through the darkness; Twilight felt as if she were being watched. Glancing to her right, she jumped in fear when she noticed two small red orbs piercing through the darkness towards her; and she froze with fear.

“Twilight; you are up awfully late at this hour aren’t you?” asked Rurik from his seat.

His tone was distant, almost depressed. The lavender unicorn hit the lights with her telekinesis and found Rurik out of his armor. He wore a plain black robe; and his camouflage spell was not active; meaning that he appeared as he had when he had fed upon Red Brand in the forest.

“I uh, had some nightmares that were pretty bad.” she replied looking at the ground. Rurik sighed and stood up from his seat before walking over t the young mare and kneeling to her level.

“It was about vampires wasn’t it?” he asked sadly. Twilight nodded her head. “I’m so sorry you and your friends had to see me like that Twilight.”

He spoke to Twilight tenderly as a father would speak to his child. Twilight looked up at his face. The strong, deathly pale face held a look of sadness and shame upon it that made Twilight feel sad just looking at it.

“Are you okay Rurik?”

“No Twilight, I’m really not okay.” he replied in a melancholy tone.

“What’s wrong?” she asked him with concern.

“Well; you know how I absorbed that pony’s memories by feeding off of his blood correct?” Twilight nodded. “I saw so much more than his wrong doings: because of me a young wife is now without a husband; and two little fillies will never see their papa again. Not only that but they will grow up knowing that he betrayed his country: why couldn’t the fool have just given up what he knew? At least then his family would not have the added pain of loss.” he said sadly.

Twilight was surprised but did not show it. She had assumed that Rurik had no qualms about making a meal out of the traitorous noble: in fact Twilight herself had felt bad for Red Brand right up until hearing that he was the intended trigger colt who was supposed to kill the mare who had been a second mother to her. When she thought about it though; he was not feeling remorse for Red Brand; but for the family that the stallion had left behind. Twilight put a comforting hoof on his shoulder.

“Rurik; it wasn’t your fault. What you found out has brought a very dangerous situation to light that would not have been realized until it was too late. It was not because of you that his family will have to experience grief and shame; it is because of him and him alone. Don’t blame yourself for that.” said Twilight in a kind tone.

While he still felt guilt over Red Brand’s family; Rurik knew that the lavender Unicorn was right. He had done what needed to be done, and because he had, there was now a chance to end a threat to an entire kingdom. This did a little to boost the Nord’s spirits, and he sat back down. Despite being a vampiric killing machine; Rurik still kept his humanity, and that was something he thanked the Divines for daily.

“Come one and let’s sit down and talk for a little bit; maybe it will make you feel better.” said Twilight as she went towards the kitchen. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“Oh no thank you, I am not thirsty, but sure: I do not mind talking for a little bit.” said Rurik.

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Twilight sat down on her chair next to Rurik and took a drink. Feeling relieved, she set the glass down on the end table, and relaxed in the chair.

“Hey Rurik; you’ve talked about your wife a little bit; what can you tell me about her?” asked Twilight.

Rurik smiled at the mention of his beloved. He missed her so much as he had not seen her in nearly two long weeks. She was visiting her mother, and he had been overseeing the engineering program in Markarth.

“Well; like me she is a vampire; but far older than me. She’s also the one that turned me into a vampire; though that is a story I do not often share.”

“Why not?” asked Twilight.

“When a vampire turns someone it is a very intimate and deeply emotional affair known as the Blood Kiss. It is usually done between the vampire and someone dear to them; and I am not one to kiss and tell.” said Rurik chuckling a little bit at his own joke.

“Okay, I can respect that. Can you tell me how you met her at least?” asked Twilight with some hope in her eyes. She was excited when he answered her that he indeed could tell her.

“That I can: it was about six years ago that I met her. The civil war was over; and I’d just finished saving not only Skyrim but all of Nirn from a great threat. Unfortunately there was little time for rest: villages and cities were experiencing a rash of vampire attacks on a scale that had not been seen for centuries. My brother Harald and I joined up with a group of vampire hunters known as The Dawnguard, men and women who had dedicated themselves to eliminating the vampire threat. My first assignment was to a place called Dimhollow Crypt…”

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Dimhollow Crypt; six years ago

“I don’t like the looks of this little brother.” said the tall red haired Nord as he stared unenthusiastically at the entrance of the cave.

“Wow, I never thought that I would hear that from the best monster hunter in all of Tamriel!” chuckled Rurik from beneath his masked golden helm.

“And I never thought that my brother; the genius engineer; would want to go in with only one other person against Talos knows how many vampires.” replied the older Nord.

“Hey, we have an ace up our sleeves.” said Rurik holding up his blade. The sword was pristine and glowed a pure and holy light. “Lady Meridia smiles upon us brother.”

Rurik’s brother put on his dragon scale helmet and drew his bow off his back. The dragon bone weapon was a work of art.

“If my shots are accurate enough; we won’t need to get that close little brother.” he replied with a grin.

“Just watch your step brother, these tombs are plenty dangerous. Now let’s go meet up with Vigilant Tolan; we shouldn’t keep him waiting.” said Rurik walking towards the entrance. Before he could go in he felt his brother’s dragon scale gauntlet on his shoulder.

“I am in light armor Rurik; I’ll move quieter: plus we both know I am better with a bow. Let me go ahead: that way if there is a threat; they won’t hear the arrows that kill them.” grinned the older brother.

“Lead the way then big brother.”

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“So wait: you have a brother?” asked Twilight tilting her head with curiosity.

“Mhm. Harald and I look a lot alike but he has red hair and is about a head taller than I am and a good deal stronger; plus our fighting styles are also different. He can swing two handed blades like they weigh nothing at all and can hit a target with his bow at an incredible distance: he’s a true warrior and I couldn’t have asked for a better brother. He makes Ma and Pa very proud.” said Rurik with a look of nostalgia on his pale face.

“Also; you talked about Tolan: Who is he?” asked Twilight.

“He was a priest with an order known as the Vigilants of Stendaar. The vampires burned their headquarters to the ground and he was there investigating. He had come to us for help in avenging his friends who had died there.” said Rurik.

“So; did you meet him there?” asked the lavender mare.

“I was getting to that.” replied Rurik with a sigh. “Now, back to the story: where were we..? Oh yes! Now I remember.”

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Being in lighter armor and there for a good deal quieter in his movements; Harald went into the cave first with an arrow knocked to the string of his dragon bone bow; while Rurik followed behind a few feet with a fire bolt spell at the ready in his left hand; and Dawn Breaker glowing hungrily in his right. The holy blade seemed to know when the undead were near. The sword would glow brighter as their foul, corrupted souls drew closer, as if in anticipation of purifying Nirn of their evil, wretched existence. As the two Nords crept into position; they could hear the voices of a man and woman speaking. As the targets came into view; Harald looked in horror at what the two were standing over: the limp form of Vigilant Tolan.

“Hold up little brother.” said Harald drawing back the bowstring.  The two hunters listened intently as their oblivious quarry talked.

“Those Vigilants just don’t know when to give up. I thought we’d taught them enough of a lesson when we burnt down their hall.” said a male voice.

“He came here alone…just another fool.” retorted an uppity female voice.

The conversation ended when an arrow made of dragon bone slammed into the side of the man’s head and a fire bolt turned the woman to ash where she stood. The two hunters walked down towards the bodies and halted at the side of the fallen priest: his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling of the cave. Rurik knelt and closed the dead man’s eyes. Looking away from the body, he saw two more slain vampires: their heads crushed by Tolan’s blessed warhammer. He had died a warrior’s death, and deserved to be honored as such. Rurik positioned the body; putting Tolan’s warhammer’s head on his chest and crossing his hands over the handle just under the head.

“May you find glory in Sovngarde Tolan.” said Harald somberly as Rurik closed the fallen priest’s eyes.

“We will avenge him brother: but we must first find out what is going on here.” said Rurik placing a hand on his big brother’s shoulder.

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“He had been drained completely of blood: he was dead I guestimate about an hour before we arrived at Dimhollow.” replied Rurik sadly.

“You two knew him?” asked Twilight.

“I didn’t know him too well; but Harald had fought beside him on many occasions and they were friends. “replied the Nord.

“That’s so sad.” said Twilight. The mere thought of losing any of her friends made her feel uneasy and depressed. Rurik continued with his story however.

“We continued down into the crypt: the place was more of a large subterranean city than a tomb; the Ancient Nords had some rather interesting architecture. We ran into more vampires along the way; dispatching them with relative ease along with any undead servants that they had raised from the dead with foul necromancy. There were also the Drauger to contend with: undead people who guard the ancient barrows of Skyrim. They are aggressive, foul tempered, and they smell atrocious: My brother and I fought through all of these horrors as we made our way to the inner sanctum of Dimhollow Crypt.”

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The two brothers found themselves on a very high balcony, and heard more arguing. Once more, the blood suckers were oblivious to the fact that two well equipped killers were stalking them.

“I’ll never tell you anything blood sucker, my oath to Stendarr is stronger than the pain you can put me through.” said one of the voices.

“I believe you Vigilant; so I shall send you to your beloved divine.” came another voice.

Rurik and Harald looked at each other for a fraction of a second before the charged down the stairs to where the voices were coming from. Unfortunately, by the time the two brothers arrived; the priest lay dead at the feet of two vampires; the awkward position of his head revealing the cause of death to be a snapped neck. As one; the two brothers joined their enraged voices into a terrifying battle cry that the Nords are renowned for, and charged the two now very panicked vampires. Despite their obvious fear of the two Nords, the vampires stood their ground: a brave, but foolish and ultimately fruitless effort. One of the wretched creatures exploded in a ball of white flame as Dawnbreaker slammed into his chest, while the other was hacked to bloody chunks with sickening speed by Harald’s claymore.

The two caught their breath before taking in their surroundings; which they had ignored in their haste to save the priest. They were in a large cavern, in the middle of which was a lake. In the center of this lake, connected by some old stone bridges, was an island; on which appeared to be an ancient, ruined, shrine. The odd thing about this shrine was that there was waste high pedestals on which sat bowls. In the dead center was a small pedestal without a bowl.

“Come on Harald; let’s go have a closer look.” said Rurik with a hint of excitement. The older warrior did not share his brother’s curiosity.

“I don’t know Rurik, curiosity killed the cat…” warned the older brother raising a bushy red eyebrow.

“Oh come on, where is your sense of adventure?” replied Rurik tauntingly.

“Fine then; let’s go take a look.” The older Nord said with annoyance. His parents would never let him hear the end of it if he let his little brother get himself killed.

The two Nords made their way across the bridge and got a closer look at the shrine. There were large tracks in the floor that allowed the pedestals to move back and forward: but it was the center pedestal that caught Rurik’s attention. The pedestal had no tracks to allow it to move and there was a button on top of it. Slowly, he approached the button; like a moth drawn towards the light of a lantern: his curiosity taking hold. The young man placed his hand upon the button and pushed down. Nothing seemed to happen at first: but then, the loud thunk sound of armor being penetrated echoed around the cavern as a spike forged of ebony punched through the Dwarven glove on Rurik’s left hand without resistance. Rurik yelped in surprise and pain; and after a few seconds the spike retracted. The young engineer stumbled back and would have fallen on the flat of his back had Harald not run forward and caught him.

“Damn it Rurik! I told you curiosity-”

“Killed the cat: I know Harald!” spat Rurik painfully through clenched teeth.

“Are you alright little brother?” asked Harald.

“Well, I can still move my fingers and hand; so no broken bones. My gauntlet is ruined though.” answered Rurik as he activated a healing spell.

“You just had a spike made from ebony punch through your hand and you’re worried about your armor?” asked the elder brother with a deadpan stare.

“Hey; this armor isn’t easy to forge and it sure as Oblivion isn’t easy or cheap to fix.” replied Rurik.

“And mama said college would be a good thing for you.” replied Harald face palming.

Before Rurik could answer, the ground shook.  The tracks emitted a glowing, purple colored flame: Rurik put the hand that the spike had gone through over the flames and to his surprise; they gave off no heat and left no burns on the exposed area of his hand.

“Now that’s interesting.” said the young engineer.

Looking around at the bowls on their pedestals; Rurik saw that one of them had the flames coming out of it as if it were a large torch. He got up off his knees and walked over to it. He then pushed the object back in the track and the flames went out: moving it back; the flames returned. Rurik moved to the next one and pushed it all the way back; causing it to light up just like the previous one.

“Brother, help me out will you? Start moving the pedestals until they look like those two!” he said pointing to the two he had already activated.

Harald nodded his head and the two brothers went to work moving the pedestals. Once the last pedestal was in place the ground shook once more: and from the center of the shrine where the button was; a large six sided, carved stone emerged from the floor. Rurik approached the stone: it was a bit taller than he was and the stone was cracked from age. He raised his gauntlet and knocked on the surface: it was hollow.

“If it’s hollow, maybe something is inside.” offered Harald.

“Possibly; looks like there’s a door here.” said Rurik.

The area that the younger brother had indicated was three cracks that appeared to be manmade. Rurik had seen doors like this in some of the explorations he’d had in ancient Nord barrows; and knew how these doors worked. Putting his hands against the flat surface of the stone, he gave a good push. At first nothing happened: but then the sounds of clicking gears echoed through the cavern and the door slipped down into the floor. The two had expected to find some major artifact or weapon that the vampires planned on using; what they had not expected to find another person locked away inside of the stone compartment.

The person in question was a young woman: slender with beautiful curves and a gorgeous pale face that looked as if it had been sculpted by a master artist. She had soft dark hair that was styled in two braids that ran along each side of her head; and wore elegant looking red and black leather armor and a black cape with an attached hood. Her gloved hands were crossed over her chest as if she were in a coffin. Rurik moved forward as the woman fell out of her stone prison; and caught her before her face made contact with the shrine’s ruined floor. Getting down on a knee; Rurik held the woman so he could see her face: her eyes were closed, and her breathing was shallow.

“Wh- where am I?” asked the woman in a disoriented and groggy whisper.

“Dimhollow Crypt ma’am; are you alright?” asked Rurik.

“Been better.” she wheezed opening her eyes slowly.

The eyes glowed an unnatural red: this woman was a vampire; the very thing he had been sent to destroy. She was also very weak at the moment; something that would make destroying her easy, but for some reason; he found that he did not want to harm her. As she looked up at him with those glowing red eyes; he did not see the hatred, arrogance or anger as he had in the eyes of the vampires he had slain: he saw sadness, loss, confusion; and even fear.

“Who; are you?” asked the woman.

“I am Rurik Skull-Taker, of Clan Skull-Taker: what is your name miss?”

“I’m Serana: you have my thanks for getting me out of that box; and for your blood.” she replied weakly.

“Wait; is she a-?”

“Yes, I’m a vampire.” said Serana with a cross look. “Got a problem with that?” she finished with a sarcastic tone.

“Well considering I am here to kill vampires, yes!” Harald spat back reaching for his claymore.

“ENOUGH!” shouted Rurik; using the power of his Thu’um to amplify his voice. He then cleared his throat and turned his gaze to his brother.

“Big brother; calm yourself. She has not attacked us and tried to drain us of blood; and she may have information we need. So cool it and just relax: remember not all vampires are bad. Just look at Sybille in Solitude.” he offered.

“Alright; but if she attacks you; don’t think I will hesitate to cut her down.” said Harald with a glare.

“Calm down big guy; your brother already fed me.” said Serana with a glare.

“What do you mean?!” asked Harald suspiciously.

“When he got stabbed through the hand, his blood ran down a little gutter in front of my mouth and woke me up from my hibernation: I must say, it was nice to taste virgin blood for the first time in gods know how long.” explained Serana. At this, Harald’s mouth dropped open.

“W-w-what do you mean virgin blood?!” asked Harald with a look of shock and confusion.

“Did your mother and father not tell you about the birds and the bees?” she asked sarcastically. “Or were you just too dumb to understand the concept of virginity?”

“No; I just don’t think that he can grasp the concept of waiting for the right person to come into one’s life instead of wenching his way across the greater Skyrim area.” offered Rurik.

“Rurik: you mean to tell me that you; the divines’ blessed dragonborn; the man that has women throwing themselves at you: has never bedded a woman!? You’re not even thirty yet! I thought you’d have a string of women after you!” shouted Harald.

“Oh I do have a following, but none of them love me for who I am. All they care about is gaining status.” answered the younger brother. This caused Harald’s face to go completely blank and the older brother began mumbling incoherently.

“I think you broke him.” said Serana.

“Eh, he’s fine: he just doesn’t do well with concepts he doesn’t understand: monogamy included.”

“Not to change the subject, but I want to get out of this place. We can play q and a later when we are outside, agreed?” asked Serana.

“Agreed.” said both brothers simultaneously: and with that, the trio made their way to the nearest exit.

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“Serana and I went on so many adventures together after that. We started as friends, and as we travelled together we became more. One and a half years after we met; we tied the knot on the front steps of the Palace of Kings in the royal capital. It was the happiest day in my life.” said Rurik. He would have told her more about the marriage and their adventures together but he did not want to be up all night.

“You sound so happy when you talk about her: I will probably never find a nice colt to take home to mom and dad.’’ said Twilight with a hint of melancholy as her ears slightly drooped.

“Oh, and what makes you say that?” asked Rurik raising an eyebrow.

“Well; I am kind of: in the words of one of my friends; an egghead. I spend most of my time reading and studying, plus most of the stallions I have meant were total jerks with only one thing on their mind, and I am really not into mares.” sighed Twilight.

The lavender unicorn felt her mane suddenly ruffled by Rurik’s ice cold hand, causing her to look over to her vampiric guest.

“It may take a while; but the right stallion will come along. He will be someone who wants to spend time reading with you and who treats you right. I was twenty six when I meant Serana; and while I normally do not believe in love at first sight, but I think I felt it there in that tomb when I first met her. You will know when the right one comes along.” he said with a smile.

“So: do you and Serana have any children?” asked Twilight innocently. She became suddenly worried when Rurik’s expression became dark and he turned away from her.

“That is something which I do not wish to discuss.” he answered coldly.

“I-I’m sorry Rurik; I didn’t mean to upset you!” she pleaded.

“I am not angry at you Twilight: but I think now would be a good time for us both to head to bed. We can speak a bit more in the morning.” he answered in a cold and emotionless tone that seemed to make the temperature in the room drop.

“Okay, good night Rurik.” said Twilight.

“Good night Twilight.” he replied rising from his seat and heading to the basement door. Twilight went back to bed, failing to notice the drops of blood on the floor leading to the door that her guest had just walked through. As soon as he sat on the edge of his bed, the vampire wiped away the bloody tears in his eyes and pushed away his sad memories before lying down on the large bed provided for him and letting the sweet embrace of sleep take him.