Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest 1/2

The loud clangs of steel woke Serana from her restless slumber. The birds sung away as the silk sheets fell from her willowy shoulders, revealing her perfectly shaped body as she groggily sat up.

Another loud clang rid her of her lethargy as she stood and dressed. A simple robe of deep black and red embroidery lay over a wooden chair in the rooms corner. A small piece of paper lay atop the vanity next to it.

'I bought this for Ciri a while back, suffice to say she didn't like it.

Your's if you want, L.'

'That's kind of him.' Serana smiled at the small gesture, dressing in the newly gifted robe.

The sonorous clanks of steel continued to gnaw at her heightened hearing as she explored the house. A lack of any real style was her first notice. How the decor changed from clearly magical in nature, into a greatly contrasting bare wood and dragon bone. From alchemy and lore. To swords and jewellery.

Small chandeliers of candles hung from the high ceiling of the house's walkway to the ebony ladened wooden door, of which a sparsely hidden spell washed over her at each touch of the black metal.

Following the noise into the chill morning air, the rising sun making her flinch as it slowly arose from behind the old Nord tomb of Bleak Falls barrow, casting a great shadow on the village of Riverwood.

'A great choice of home... I almost envy it.' She thought with a gentle smile and advanced forward.

A loud sizzle of a burning liquid brought her attention to the form of Lucius. No sweat on his body from the intense heat before him as his blood slowly trickled from his hand onto a broken looking metal sword of blue and black.

At closer inspection the vampiress noticed his blood forming a pattern on the blade, a swirl of runes and enchantments that wound themselves together like a snake of infinite length. A large black gem as the swords pommel the seemed to pulse with power with each drop of blood.

Choosing not to interrupt the clearly complex process in front of her Serana simply stood, idly playing with the strings of her hood, and watched in fascination at his skill.

However, when the man grabbed the still white hot metal with ease and doused it in a red and white liquid she couldn't help but yelp in shock.

"Did I wake you?" He turned his head to the side, not losing his grip of the sword as he gently placed it back onto the anvil. "Sorry, i'm not used to people with higher hearing." He lazily smiled, the sleeve of his white poet shirt falling down to his elbow as he tied back his hair.

"It's fine. I think i've slept long enough, Lucius." She joked with a chuckle. "What are you making?"

"Heh, I bet waking up to this Skyrim was fun." He muttered. "I'm making a mix between a sword and a staff. I tried before, but I couldn't pull it off properly since my divinity ripped the materials apart...Being destructive in nature didn't help." He said.

"Wait. Divinity... You have the powers of a god?" Serana stumbled. "I heard you say you were dragonborn, but I thought that only meant a divine soul..." She carefully probed.

"Alduin. I didn't kill him by conventional means. My body got stronger and so did my magic, that's the shortest version." Lucius hummed, checking the sword for any kinks after the quench in his own blood. "How much do you know about Elder Scrolls?"

"I mean... as much as anyone. Not a lot. You'd figure a couple hundred years locked away with one would have given me some insights, but no. Turns out you don't learn much from just sleeping with something." Serana's sly comment didn't get past Lucius.

"Oh~Are you saying you want to learn more about lil' old me?" Lucius teased.

"Not at this rate, no." She winked.

"I guess we'll have to start looking for that Moth Priest, then." He turned back to his blade.

"I guess we will." Was Serana's coy reply.

"Morning, Lucius." They heard a tired voice come from the house doors. "Is that my robe?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Hey, you're the one who said you didn't like it." Lucius reminded. "Could I have some of your blood, Ciri? I want to see if I can make the sword teleport." He asked. "And we'll call you stealing my 'very expensive' wine even."

"Sure!" She replied without hesitation, like there was nothing weird with the question, quickly moving past the vampiress and drawing her knife. "Where'd you want it?"

"You see the gem? There's a hole in the handle just above it." Lucius pointed, a hand on Ciri's shoulder as they went cheek to cheek, ignoring the small huff behind them. "Thank you." He smiled at her as he healed her hand, staring into her still tired eyes.

"Should we make our plan to find the moth priest now?" Serana steered them back from their little world, crossing her arms.

"Ahem, sure. Like you said, I think the college would be a good start... I just hope the Orc didn't notice me ripping a page." Lucius murmured the end.

"What's happening?" Ciri asked.

"Another prophecy, I think i'm involved again." His disinterested reply came.

"My father wants to control the sun and enslave everyone." Serana informed Ciri.

"Oh, of course. A normal and smart thing to do..." She drawled.

"I know." Serana agreed. "His power has got to his head. The sycophants in his court haven't helped that while I was locked away either."

"Let me finish the wrap of the handle and we can go, yeah?" Lucius offered, getting a nod from Serana.

"Fine by me. I'll go get my things while you wrap up, heh, get it?" She joked as she walked away.

"Yes, yes. Good one, Ciri." He waved her off and began wrapping the handle in a gold and slim metal.

.

.

.

A black crack opened in the snow filled, but otherwise empty, courtyard of the college and three people walked out.

"I would've thought portals would have been lost to time." Serana said, gazing into the black portal that slowly closed behind them.

"I took inspiration from, Ciri. That helped a great deal." Lucius said. "Now, if you'll excuse me i'm going to do something else while you ask the Orc." Lucius slowly backed away.

"Fine i'll ask, but she comes with me." Ciri replied, grabbing Serana's arm as she looked to Lucius for help.

He simply smiled and waves as he leaned back onto the stone wall. Mouthing a 'good luck.'

"So...Were you always a vampire?" Ciri tried making small talk as they walked into the college.

"That's... a long story. I'm not sure if you'd want to know" Serana said, rubbing her arm.

"I'd like to hear it, if that's okay." She replied.

"I guess... we kind of have to go way back. To the very beginning. Do you know where vampirism came from?" Serana questioned and followed Ciri up the stairs.

"I would guess it came from one of those Daedric lords. They seem the type." Ciri guessed, glancing back.

"Exactly! The first vampire came from Molag Bal. She... was not a willing subject. But she was still the first. Molag Bal is a powerful Daedric lord, and his will is made reality. For those willing to subjugate themselves, he will still bestow the gift, but they must be powerful in their own right before earning his trust." Serana explained.

"How did you actually become a vampire, then? The- uh, same way as the first?" Ciri stopped her advance up the steps.

"The ceremony was... degrading. Let's not revisit that. But we all took part in it. Not really wholesome family activity, but I guess it's something you do when you give yourselves to a Daedric lord." Serana discreetly covered herself, giving herself some small comfort.

"I guess- I know how you feel. It doesn't really leave you if you dwell on it." Ciri slowly responded, in her own way of comfort. Although, I can admire your devotion." She smiled.

"Not many people understand the appeal. You surprise me. Now, you might already know that Molag Bal is the original source of vampirism. But what you probably don't know is that he still grants it to his more -impressive, followers." Serana smiled in kind.

"If you live the life I have it's a normal thing." Ciri mumbled. "Come on, he should be through here." Ciri said, opening the door in the Arcanaeum.

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I'm releasing this chapter early because you reached the target, and also so I can write another as fast as I can for tomorrow.

I'm moving house, but want to have a chapter ready to post without worrying in the day.

This will be his sword/staff until Middle Earth btw.

(Image):

Any feedback at all. Reoccurring mistakes or nitpicks?

Have a good one,

Your "patently evil" Author ;)