Curse of Cold harbor.

Castle Volkihar

Me and Serana were traveling towards Solitude after leaving Dimhollow Crypt. I made sure I was always behind her. Cause even if we fought together, I still didn't entirely trust her.
As I looked at her, she walked a few meters in front of me. She glanced back at me before speaking up.
" Wanna take a break, Dracar? It is not normal for a human to walk so long."
She asked me as she looked at me with a slight hint of concern. It was true we have been walking for nearly half a day straight. It didn't seem to tire her in the slightest, but I could feel my legs aching from the long walk.
" No... We keep going. The sooner we get to your home, the sooner I can take you and the elder scroll to fort dawnguard."
I could see she wasn't too fond of that as she looked at me irritated.
" And what if I don't go with you to that place?"
I glared at her.
" Than I will have to force you back."
She scoffed at me before she picked up the pace. " You really know how to treat a woman, don't you, Dracar?" She said, irritated.
I glared at her before I spoke up.
" Yeah, I know how to treat a woman. I also know how to treat a vampire." I shot back, now getting a bit angry.
She stopped and turned around, stomping towards me. I readied Nightbane, preparing to fight.
" What's your problem?! I gave you no reason to distrust me!" She yelled.
I glared at her as our eyes met.
" You can be kind to me all you want. But, heck, you could be trying one of those manipulative vampire tricks on me. I don't trust you or any vampire for that matter."
She glared at me and turned around again, picking up the pace even faster than before. I had trouble keeping up, but I managed somehow. After that encounter with her, I held Nightbane at the ready-to-strike.
The night began to fall as Skyrim's aurora was now visible. I saw the lights of a town in the distance.
" We take a rest there," I told her.
She glanced over at me.
" Fine." She scoffed.
As we entered the town, I scanned the town looking for the inn. I saw a few locals and decided to ask where we were and where the inn was. They told me that we were in Morthal and pointed me towards Moorside inn.
As we made our way into the inn, I grabbed Serana's arm.
" Don't try anything, or we have a problem."
She glared at me but nodded. I made my way towards the innkeeper.
The innkeeper was a redguard woman, and she smiled at me as I approached.
" What might it be adventurer, looking for a place to sleep? A nice meal, or both?"
I smiled back at her. " I would like to rent two rooms and a meal please, I am starving."
" Well, the meal I can do; unfortunately, there is only one room left. However, it has a double bed so you and your company can sleep there." She said as she glanced at Serana.
I sighed in defeat.
' Just my luck, now I have to share a bed with a vampire.' I thought.
" No, that will be fine. I will take it."
I gave the innkeeper the money for the room and the meal and found myself a place to sit down. Serana sat down next to me. I took a quick glance at her. But I noticed from her expression that she was still mad.
The innkeeper came and placed two plates of horker stew in front of us, with two large flagons of mead and a loaf of bread.
" Enjoy your meal!" She said as she winked at me, which didn't get unnoticed by Serana. Her attitude seemed to get worse by that.
I dug into my meal, and after a while, I noticed that Serana wasn't eating. So I leaned closer to her and started to whisper.
" I know you are a vampire and all, but even you need to get some food into that stomach of yours."
" I am not hungry.." she said, but her stomach betrayed her as it growled in disapproval.
A slight blush came across her face as she began to eat.
We ate the rest of our meal in silence, and after that, the innkeeper showed us to our room.
The room was big, and an orange hue lighted it up from the candles. A bad stood in the corner of the room already filled up with water.
As tempting as it was to take a bath, I decided against it as I didn't want to expose myself. Nor did I want to make myself vulnerable.
Serana seemed to pick up on it as she spoke up.
" You can take a bath if you want. I am not going to do anything. Even if you don't trust anything, I say." She shot at me.
She began to rummage through a bookshelf and, after picking up a book she liked. She seated herself in a chair, sitting with her back towards the bath.
I began to undress myself, exposing my muscled figure. Numerous scars from my past battles riddled my whole body. I sensed Serana looking at me. As I turned around to look, we made eye contact.
I nearly lost myself in those glowing orange eyes accented by the orange hue from the candles.
" You have been through a lot, haven't you, Dracar?" She asked me. It startled me a little as I lowered myself in the bath.
" You could say that..." I sighed.
She sighed as well. " Same for me..." As she looked at the ground.
I stared at her for a while until her attention went back towards the book she was reading.
After cleaning myself, I got out of the bath, which by now was clean. I put my undergarments back on and made my way towards the bed. Getting in it and took a sigh of relief as I felt the soft animal fur.
I glanced over at Serana which seemed captivated by her book.
" Aren't you going to sleep?"
She looked over at me and smiled a little.
" I think I slept enough already. But thanks for asking."
That remark made me think about how long she was locked up in that crypt.
" So, Serana, how long have you been in that crypt for?"
She sighed and lay down the book. " Well, I don't know for sure, twenty years. Forty may be, who is the king of Skyrim??"
" Well, actually, that is a matter for debate."
She began to smile.
" Ah, a war of succession, glad to know Skyrim didn't change much. Who are the contestants?"
I didn't know much but decided to humor her.
" Well, ulfric stormcloak is leading a rebellion against the Empire."
She looked surprised.
" What Empire??"
I quirked my eyebrow at her.
" The Empire, from Cyrodill. It's been around for nearly three era's" I said blatantly.
This time she seemed genuinely surprised.
" Cyrodill is the center of an Empire and three eras?!?! I must have been locked up longer than I thought." She stood up from her chair and paced around. I was astonished this wasn't like her at all. Her regular stoic expression was replaced by a worried one.
" I really have to go back to my home..." She said as she headed for the door. I quickly got out of the bed and grabbed her hand.
" Hey, wait a second. Your home and the occupants will still be there tomorrow, seeing as I assume you are all vampires." I reasoned with her.
After saying that, I could see that she was calming down. She looked at me, and I couldn't place the expression she had on her face.
" Thanks..." That was all she said.
After that, I got back in bed, and Serana went back to the chair, picking up the book.
My eyes felt heavy as I thought the clutching pull of sleep was coming over me. Then, finally, my vision went dark as I fell into a deep sleep, exhausted by the last few days.
* My eyes opened up, and I was back in Cyrodill. The death body of a man I knew as one of my closest friends lay before me...
" What the fuck is this!!" I screamed. I felt the sensation of my body moving on its own. I made my way into the home that was right in front of me.
" No, no, no!! Don't go in." I yelled, but no sound came out.
A bodyguard greeted me.
" Ah, master Dracar welcome back! But, wait, why are you covered in blood..."
I saw the man realizing what was about to happen as he tried pulling his sword out of his sheath.
I tried so hard to fight myself from Killing him, but the power moving me was too strong as I stabbed the man multiple times. He screamed loudly, and two small figures came down the stairs.
" NOOO!!! STAY UPSTAIRS!!" I tried yelling, but no words came out.
" Daddy, what are you doing??" The small boy asked as I towered over him. Time slowed down for me, as the only thing I could see was the sword moving closer and closer towards the boy.
Blood spattered on my face, my eyes were still hazy, but tears were flowing from them.
Then my body turned towards the little girl who by now was screaming and tried getting away. My hand grabbed her hair and slammed her into the wall.
" DADDY, PLEASE, I AM SORRY!" She screamed out.
" NOO!! I WON'T!!" I screamed, again no sound came out.
I managed to get a bit of control over myself, and the little girl ran away as fast as she could. She was hiding behind a figure who stood in front of me in shock.
" D..D... Dracar, what is this..!!" She whimpered. Tears dripped down her face. Then, as she fell to her knees, she screamed.
" WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!"
I finally managed to get some control to speak. " Neala...RUN! I can't control myself anymore.."
Her face turned into that of horror as I sprinted towards her, my sword thrust into her stomach.
She spit up blood as her hands grabbed my face. She sputters out words that came out rough and gurgling.
" I know this isn't you... I forgive you.." she whispered as she fell down.
"Noooo!!"
" I hate you. I hate you. I hate youu, I hate YOUUU!" That was all I could think.
Again my body moved on its own, looking for the little girl. I heard whimpering from a closet.
Then a dark voice in my head spoke up.
" Don't kill her. Instead, lock her in there and burn the house, Kekeke." So it said as it laughed evil.
I grabbed a torch, and I tried so hard to stop my movements but just couldn't.
After setting fire to the place, I moved out of the house. And in front of me was the hooded figure. My whole being was bursting with hatred and sadness.
" I..i...I will kill you." I managed to blurt out.
The hooded figure's voice turned female as she removed her hood, Serana face revealed itself." You couldn't even if you wanted." She said as she bit me. " *
I woke up screaming. " NEALA, AUGUST, LUCIANA!!"
My eyes filled themselves with tears as I curled up in a ball, rocking back and forth. Then I felt a cold hand touching my skin, and I jumped out of bed screaming.
" Are you okay...?" She asked as she genuinely looked worried. But I didn't see it through all my hatred.
" Get away from me! You vile creature, I hate you and all of your kind!!"
Serana took a few steps back as she saw me going for my knife. I charged towards her, tears flowing down my eyes.
She readied herself, but the impact never came. I had fallen down to my knees sobbing, kept saying their names.
" I..i...I killed them..." It came out almost not audible.
I sensed her getting close, she kept her distance. As she also knelt down.
" Hey... Want to talk ?" She said soft and caring.
I looked up at her, tears still falling down my face. Our eyes connected, and what I saw shocked me. She had a worried expression on her face and her glowing orange eyes. They were looking at me apologetically.
" I am sorry for what one of my kind did to you, Dracar..." She said, soft and apologetic.
" May I approach??" She asked.
I nodded, and she inched closer as she got me off my knees and sat me down on the bed. After she sat down in the chair across from me, she was the first one to speak up.
" So, who are the people you yelled for?"
My body tensed up as I looked down, tears flowing down my face again.
" They are... No, they were my family... I killed them because a powerful vampire enthralled me. He ordered me to kill them because we were foiling his plans. "
She looked shocked as she began to stutter.
" I... I know some cruel vampires. But I have never heard anything like this. I am so sorry, Dracar..."
I continued.
" If I just didn't try to play hero, they would still be alive... I will never forgive myself for that.." I said as my voice cracked at every sentence.
" That's why I can never trust you... I just can't... But when I look at you, all I see is kindness, and it fucks with everything I know is real!!" All my emotions seemed to come out. And all I could think of was the faces of my family, begging, crying, dying.
Serana looked at me with a sad expression on her face as she did a very unexpected thing. She hugged me.
" I am so sorry, Dracar..."
A strange sensation came over me as I felt my sadness fade away, and I felt myself calming down. Then, after a while, she got up and looked at me with a small smile.
" Are you ready to go??"
" Yes, I am.." I said a little more in control now.
I got up from the bed and put my gear back on. We made our way out of the inn and back on the road.
Nothing much was said between the two of us as we just walked in comfortable silence. I took the time to look at Serana. She was humming a song, and she seemed to enjoy the scenery we were walking on the road towards dragonbridge. A few hours went by like that, and we were now behind Solitude, walking next to the ocean.
" So Serana, how much further??" I asked her as I was getting a bit tired.
Serana turned around to look at me.
" Well, about half an hour left, maybe. My family left a small boat around here somewhere to row towards the island." She said as she was scanning the coast for a small jetty.
I looked at her, skeptical. " Do you really think that jetty is still there?? It has been era's."
She fake scoffed at me as she spoke up.
" How else would they get to the mainland Dracar."
There was some truth in those words, and I had to admit that.
Half an hour past and we ended up at a small dock, and yeah, that little boat was there.
"It is in perfect condition damn, that took away all my skepticism." I sighed as she just smirked at me.
We got in the boat, and of course, I had to row. After a while, an island came into view. It was huge. We approached the shoreline and got off the jetty. Serana turned towards me and looked at me seriously.
"It's best when we get in there. I do all the talking, okay? I don't know who is in there.."
I looked at her, confused.
" Why?"
" Well, if it is my, father we need to be worried if it is my mom; however, it will be a bit better.." she sighed, and I could see she was distraught.
I smiled at her. " I bet it will be fine. Let us go inside."
We walked up towards the castle over a massive bridge. There were a lot of those bat beasts statues on it. I unsheathed Nightbane and inched further until Serana looked at me with a reassuring.
" They are just statues...Dracar, you can relax."
We made our way further towards the castle gate and were greeted by a gatekeeper. He was an elderly man wearing leather armor. He eyed me curiously before turning his attention towards Serana.
" I can't believe my eyes! Lady Serana, you are back! Open the gates. Lady Serana has returned!!"
I was confused. The man looked pretty human but seemed to know and recognize Serana. But, unfortunately, I couldn't continue on that thought as the gate opened up. Serana and I entered and were met with a high elf vampire.
The altmer vampire looked at me and drew his sword. " You filthy human, how dare you to come into our court uninvited!"
I glared. " You blood-sucking leech should know who to pick a fight with, and it won't go well for you!" I said, angry. As I unsheathed, Nightbane and the runes began to glow brightly.
Then Serana put her hand on mine and pushed Nightbane back in its scabbard. She glared at the alter vampire as she spoke up.
" Know your place Vingalmo.. this one is with me." She said calmly but with a hint of danger in her voice.
The man's eyes looked shocked as he backed off a little. Then he walked further into the courtroom, shouting loudly.
" Everyone!! Lord Harkon!! Lady Serana has returned!"
Then he looked at Serana and said the words I knew Serana didn't want to hear.
" Your father will be pleased on your return... And you should temper check your thrall before he gets himself killed." He said as he began to glare at me.
I glared at him but decided to keep my mouth shut. I was in a den full of vampires, and with all my battle experience, I knew I wouldn't get out alive. Serana walked further towards the main courtroom.
The hall was grand large ornate pillars with arches spanning the distance between the pillars. Braziers and chandeliers lighted up the room. In the middle of the room stood tables. What was on them almost made me vomit.
Human corpses lay sprawled across the tables, and chalice's of blood were being drunk from. I saw at least fifteen vampires gorging themselves on the human feast that was before me. My stomach turned as, along with the visual, the protruding stench of blood entered my nostrils.
I began to get angry as my mind was filled with hatred. Serana seemed to notice this and tapped me on the arm as she whispered to me.
" Are you okay.."
I nodded, and then I saw him standing there. My eyes widened as my heart rate went up. It was him.
** It's him!!!**
I clenched my teeth as I began to shake lightly. My eyes filled with hatred as I now faced the man that made me slaughter my family.
Harkon spoke up as he opened his arms wide.
" Ah, if it isn't my beautiful daughter. After all those years searching for me, you have finally returned to me. Unlike your traitor mother... And what's that you have the elder scroll, let me see!" Harkon said with an authoritative voice. He seemed only interested in the scroll in my eyes.
Serana and I walked down a small flight of stairs and were now in between the tables. Again, I felt the hungry eyes of the vampires burrow into me.
And my instinct was either to run or slay them all, but my eyes were locked on Harkon in front of me. He still had the same smug smile on his face as back then. You know that look people get when they think they are unbeatable.
" Hello, father," Serana said, not that enthusiastic.
He smiled, but I could see it was a fake one.
" Now, Serana, show me the scroll, and who is this?" He said as he looked at me, but after locking eyes with me, he looked surprised.
" Hahaha, if it isn't Dracar, how is your family doing?" He said mockingly.
My hatred grew even more prominent, and I clenched Nightbane.
" What is it can't speak? Or have you been enthralled once again? Owh Serana, this one and me had so much fun in Cyrodill you would have loved it. Did you enthrall him?" He boulders.
I clenched Nightbane even tighter, but Serana spoke up before I could.
" He isn't enthralled, father. He rescued me from my tomb." She said as she glared at him dangerously.
Harkon quirked his eyebrow as he looked at me again.
" So you rescued my daughter now huh, from where did you save her?"
My response was short and cold as it came through gritted teeth.
" Dimhollow Crypt."
Harkon glared at me as he stepped towards me.
" I send Lokil and a few others towards that crypt care to tell me what happened to them?" He hissed dangerously.
I began to laugh at him as I met his eyes.
" All death, maybe next time send more capable people.."
I never lost eye contact with the man as I said that, glaring at him furiously. Serana nudged me in the side.
" What are you doing, Dracar calm down..."
The man looked at me and began to laugh as he retook his distance.
" HAHAHA, impressive Dracar. You know for that and for bringing the elder scroll and my daughter back to me. I am willing to bestow my gift upon you. You will be a god among men unstoppable." He said proudly as he smiled at me smugly.
I looked at him and began to laugh again.
" I will never become one of you, and I rather die than become a blood-sucking leech!"
Harkon glared but continued.
" Not convinced now, are you? Well, let me show you true power!!" He yelled as his body twisted and turned. I could hear his bones crack, and his skin bursted as he transformed into a grey bat-like creature.
" You see, this is true power, Dracar!! Join me, and you will never have to be afraid anymore. You will be a lion among sheep!!" He boulders.
My stomach turned at the horrendous sight, and I could feel the sheer power emitting from the creature.
I was scared, but I didn't plan on backing down as I drew Nightbane.
Harkon glared at me as he saw this.
" So you have chosen."
I glared back at him.
" I promised something to you back in Cyrodill, and I will kill you!!" I yelled angrily as I readied myself.
Harkon was about to charge me, but Serana stepped in between us. Facing me, she glared at me.
" What are you doing?!" I asked.
" Don't talk to my father like that meat! Father spare him he did bring me back here after all, and you always tell me we aren't mindless beasts." She said, stoic.
I felt betrayed by her after I trusted her this much. She turned on me at the last second.
Harkon turned back to normal and spoke up.
" Fine, I spare him this once, but after that, he is prey just like the rest of the mortals. So leave and never come back here!"
I slowly backed away, Nightbane drawn as all the vampires had now stood up and were hissing at me. As I backed up the stairs, I looked at Serana. I glared at her, and she broke eye contact.
I made my way out of the castle and ran for the jetty. Never looking back at the castle, little did I know, but Serana was standing there watching me leave. A tear was in her eye as she saw me row away.
When I got back to the shore, I sprinted as fast as I could down the shoreline towards Solitude.
My thoughts were going full speed as I felt hurt and betrayed.
* How could I have been this stupid? I trusted a vampire. Stupid asshole, what were you thinking? Of course, she would betray you! You should have taken her to Isran!*
I apparently ran faster than I thought, as I could see the silhouette of Solitude coming up. It took me another half hour to reach the stables of Solitude. And I hired a carriage taking me towards Riften.
The carriage driver took a look at me and spoke up.
" What's the matter with you? You look like you have seen a ghost?"
I sighed as I held my head in my hands.
" A ghost would have been more pleasant..." I sighed. " But if you don't mind, I would like to rest a little."
The carriage driver nodded and turned his attention back on the road. I began to ponder again.
* Why would she do that... After being so apologetic and compassionate with me in Morthal. It just makes no sense...*
I decided not to think of it again and just take it as it is a manipulative vampire. As I began to fall asleep. Little did I know that I was being watched from a distance.
The carriage driver nudged me, and I groggily woke up.
" Huh, what is it?" I said as I opened up my eyes and saw the stable of Riften.
" We have arrived, sir."
I nodded and got off the carriage. I thanked the man and proceeded to walk towards dayspring canyon. The sun was setting as I arrived at the mountain pass. I was exhausted and beaten down by the things that happened. And I could only imagine how angry Isran will become. Tolan died, and I delivered an elder scroll right to the enemy's doorstep.
The pass opened up into a valley, and I saw the familiar sight of the lake and the castle looming in the background.
Making my way towards the castle, I heard the sound of fighting. I sprinted towards the castle and saw about ten vampires battle with the Isran Durak and the dawnguard soldiers.
I ran up to the closest vampire and planted Nightbane in its ribs. The vampire screamed out in agony.
It fell as I pulled Nightbane from its chest. I proceeded towards the next one kicking it to the ground and planting Nightbane in its skull. I saw a new recruit having trouble with another one. And sprinted towards the vampire jumping on top of it, grabbing its head, and slamming it in the stone ground.
All my anger came from what happened, and I kept slamming its head in the stones even after it died.
A hand grabbed my shoulder, and I turned around with Nightbane pushing forward. But stopped after I saw Isran's familiar face.
"It is dead. I think Dracar." He said, stoic.
I looked around me to see everyone was looking at me and felt ashamed.
Isran took me inside the castle and towards his personal quarters.
He looked at me, concerned.
" What happened in Dimhollow Crypt? And where is Tolan??" He asked me as he sat down in his chair.
" Death... And I made a huge mistake Isran."
I said as I looked down at the ground. The man looked at me with sympathy.
" There was nothing of importance there, huh? Just a bunch of filthy vampires, am I right ?" Isran asked me as he looked at me with curiosity.
I scoffed as I glared down at the floor.
" There was something hugely important there, and I fucked it up!" I said, angry.
The man sighed." Everyone makes mistakes, Dracar... Tell me what happened."
I told him the story up until where I found Serana.
Isran looked at me with interest.
" And after you killed that vampire, what happened?" He asked.
" After that, I found a crypt after solving a simple puzzle. Out of that Crypt came Serana, the daughter of the vampire lord we are fighting... she had an elder scroll on her back."
Isran glared at me slightly.
" You didn't think to bring her and the elder scroll with you ?"
" She was quite convincing and persuaded me that it was of importance that I brought her back to her home. If she charmed me or not, I don't know or didn't realize...." I said as I sighed.
Isran just looked at me and said nothing, and I continued with the story. I was leaving our touching moment in the inn out of it.
" After coming into the castle, I realized there was no returning, and the manipulative succubus betrayed me siding with her father. I am lucky that he spared me. I would have met my end if it wasn't her that stopped him." I gritted my teeth as I thought back to what happened.
" Hmm, so let me see you found an elder scroll brought it to our enemy... Guess it can't be helped. We just need to prepare more. The only positive thing is you know just how many there are and where their hideout is." Isran said as he rubbed his forehead.
He stood up from his stool.
" I have a quest for you!"

" So this is it, another chapter. Be sure to leave a comment or maybe a favorite if you like it.
It is getting heated and a little more information on Dracar's past. What will Serana do?? And what will Dracar do?? keep reading if you want to find out!!