The Outsider Act 3: Rotting Flesh and Mechanical Bones - Chapter 3 - Ruby

• Posted by Soneca the Exiled December 7, 2013 - 859 views

  The woman that fell out of the coffin was a vampire. She asked us if we were like her, but once she took in our scent she had her answer. I was the first she analyzed, and she got rather calmed when she took in my scent, but like me the first time I met him, was unnerved by Shade’s essence.

   

  I was a little bit calmer now, she appeared to not have any hostile intent towards us, but was ready to defend herself if necessary. I also noticed something on her back, a big fancy scroll thing, it looked heavy.

   

  -Did my father send you? – She asked me

   

  -Do I look like the leader of this rag tag dynamic double of adventurers? – I answered

   

  -I’m sorry – she said to Shade – your essence is, unusual, I hope you understand the confusion. Usually someone like you would be serving the vampire, not the other way around – said the vampire

   

  -I won’t hold that against you, first impressions are usually very impacting; I hope you won’t hold on to that idea – Shade answered her

   

  -You said something about your father, why would he send someone? Who is your father? How long have you been here? – I bombarded her with questions

   

  She was a little overwhelmed by my questions, and when she signaled me to listen to the answers, she felt faint and fell to the ground. Well, bloody useless. Shade went to her and helped her up, she seemed a little frightened, and I could even see the goose bumps on her when he suddenly approached. I could relate, took me some time to get used to his unusual spiritual energy.

   

  Shade took his cape off and placed it over her shoulders, she accepted it and proceeded to sit down and rest for a while. Without his cape I could get a look at Shade’s outfit, he did not wear the typical dark brotherhood outfit, but instead a dark leather armor filled with pockets, bandoliers and even some vial holders. His sword, a thick, curved, ebony falchion hanged from his lower back, intended to be unsheathed by moving his right hand backwards, then forwards in a slashing motion. From his shoulder was sheathed a big knife, black curved blade with a sanguinary aura, I recognized that blade, remembering it from books I read as a child. This was the blade of woe, the badge of listener, and leader of the brotherhood.

   

  -It’s complicated, I don’t know if I can trust you two with this, yet. But if you help me get home, I can explain everything. I have no idea how long it’s been, who is Skyrim’s current high king? – Asked the woman

   

  -That is a matter for debate, I suppose that Ulfric Stormcloak should be considered high king if you consider the ancient Nordic customs. But those are considered uncivilized and barbaric by the empire, along with the fact that Ulfric is the cause and leader of a rebellious uprising against the very empire he swore to uphold. So the imperials support the wife of the late king Torygg, Elisif the fair. But really, we trust the leadership of general Tulius to help Skyrim reform its image and position inside the empire – Said Shade as he finished his speech

   

   -Empire, what empire? – Asked the woman

   

  -Are you daft woman? The Cyrodilic Empire, of the imperials, the Septim bloodline and all of that – he said

   

  -I did not know Cyrodil was the seat of an empire; I must be gone longer than I thought. Look, help me get back, and I will explain everything –

   

  -One last question, I noticed the elder scroll, anything to say about that? – Asked Shade

   

  -It’s mine – answered the woman, with a defiant face

   

  -Fair enough, I won’t pester you about that, you don’t seem very strong, given your condition I mean. I suppose, we could give you a lift, if you promise to tell me what is going on – he said

   

  -I promise, just get me home safe and I will tell you everything that is going on, by the way, my name is Serana, nice to meet you –

   

  -I am Lucius Capran, and this is my associate, Ruby Nored –

   

  We made our way out of the crypt easily enough, some undead, but nothing that could give us too much trouble. Once we were out of the cave we got back on our horses and rode northwest towards Solitude. Following her directions, once we got to the capital we tried to hire a boat to take us the rest of the way. Most refused, but then Shade lost his patience, and, lets say he could be very persuasive once he looked someone in the eyes.

   

  Eventually we got to the island she directed us to. In it’s center there was a castle, it was absolutely massive, to the likes of putting most of the holds of Skyrim to shame. As we crossed the bridge to reach the castle she stopped us.

   

  -Look, I am not sure what to tell you here, I haven’t been home in a long time, and I’m not sure if we are going to receive the warmest of welcomes. We will probably have to go our separate ways for a while, if this goes bad, is there any way I can find you? – Said Serana

   

  -I usually don’t leave traces of where I am going, nor do I stay for too long in one place. If you must find me after we leave, head for Solitude, Legate Rikke will be able to give you my approximate location – Said Shade

   

  -I just want to say, thank you – she said as she handed Shade’s cloak back to him

   

  He nodded and put his cloak back, hiding his face. With that she also nodded and we proceeded into the castle. She went in front, and the watchmen recognized her immediately, opening the gate for her passage. As we entered the massive structure a high elf vampire blocked our path.

   

  -Who are you people? How did you get past the watchman? – Asked the Altmer

   

  -It’s ok, they are with me – said Serana with a shy tone

   

  -Lady Serana? Is that really you? Thank the Gods, Lord Harkon, Serana has returned! – He said that last part overjoyed, while turning his back to us and heading towards the balcony to address the court.

   

  We walked down the stairs to a scene that almost made me feel almost comfortable, and amongst equals. There were at least a dozen vampires in the room, feasting on living cattle, corpses, and even hunks of human meat. Chalices filled with blood, a dark looming atmosphere, and hounds of darkness surrounding the table. The smell made my mouth water.

   

  -Ah, my daughter you have returned! I trust you have my Elder Scroll? – Said the vampire in the center of the main table as he got up to greet his daughter.

   

  -After all these years this is kind of greeting I receive? Yes, I have your damm scroll – she said

   

  -I’m sorry, of course I am happy you have returned do I even have to say it? – He said as he turned to face me – and it looks like you have been in pleasant company, what is your name my dear so that I may thank you – he said as he ignored Shade’s presence.

   

  -I-I’m Ruby, Ruby Nored – I said, while looking at Shade for directions.

   

  -No need to look to your thrall, your safe here, we won’t attack you – he said while trying to soothe me.

   

  -Thrall? Please, if you think I am her thrall you are sorely mistaken – said Shade with a calm voice

   

  -You talk? How dare you address me, creature? Do you even know who I am? – Asked the vampire lord

   

  -Vampires, and please don’t say, “not just vampires, some old lineage of powerful whatevers” I am sorely tired of these introductions –

   

  -You have some nerve for someone like yourself; if you came here without the company of my daughter you would be dead by now – he said while turning his face from Shade and facing me again – I am Harkon, and you have come with my daughter and my elder scroll, there is only one reward I could think that would equal that, my blood. Being a vampire already you have a sense of the power our blood holds, but if you accept mine you will become even stronger –

   

  I held my tongue, I needed time to think, and this offer was definitely tempting, but was it worth betraying one of the most dangerous men in Tamriel? I waited, and Harkon grew impatient.

   

  -Perhaps you still need a demonstration, behold! –

   

  As he said that he started to shiver and twitch, then he simply exploded with a dark energy that made me almost fall down from all of the spiritual pressure released at once. He had transformed. Now he was much taller, his skin was stretched over his engorged muscles, with strong bony wings sprouting from his back and long claws running down his thin yet mighty fingers. I felt suffocated, he was insanely powerful, and probably much more than that vampire Shade and me fought at Riften.

   

  I could not help but desire all of that power, to take it all for myself and become more powerful than anyone who dared oppose me! “Take it! You will become goddesses! You deserve all this power, do you think Harkon could even dream of reaching your level after you accept his gift, no, you will become greater than all of them! A true lion amongst sheep!” whispered my mace. It was right, I did not need Shade anymore, I would become greater than him, I would have so much power that he would not even dream of opposing me. In fact, he would grovel, beg to serve me, implore me to spare his life!

   

  I felt a stabbing pain on my chest, like a sword piercing my heart. Yet when I looked down I saw nothing, this murdering aura, this assassin’s intent, just waiting for me to make the wrong move and realize this killer’s desire. As I turned to face him I saw he was looking directly at him, yet he was different.

   

  Half of his face, the right half, the half the vampires could see, was normal. Yet the other one was something out of my nightmares. A mask, or better, a fragment of one covered the top left quarter of his face. It was a dark mask, made of pure shadows. It was a face of rage, with razor sharp teeth, and eyes out of my deepest nightmares, starring deep into my soul.

   

  “Do it, I dare you. Go on, accept his deal, betray me. Do it, what are waiting for, DO IT!”

   

  I heard his voice in my head, but it was not his, it sounded like two people speaking at the same time, one Shade, and the other, I don’t know. His lips did not move, but I could hear him clearly, inside me, torturing my mind, playing games with my soul. The mask started to spread, over the bottom left of his face and into the right side of his forehead. The pain in my chest started to become more intense, like he was twisting and turning the sword in my chest.

   

  I quickly made my mind, and I turned towards Harkon.

   

  -I gracefully reject your offer my lord, I am sorry, but I cannot betray my master – I said while hanging my head in waiting.

   

  -Than you are prey, like the rest of them – he said as he charged a dark spell in his hands.

   

  I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable, but it never came. When I opened them again I saw that Shade was looking directly at him, the mask now covering half of his face.

   

  -HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! IS THAT ALL “VAMPIRE LORD”? – Screamed Shade, with both his and the other voice.

   

  Before Harkon could do anything tendrils of darkness sprouted from the shadows of every vampire in the room, they all held weapons in their hands, some of them even shot arrows and spells into the laughing man. Useless, they all passed through him like they were nothing, like he was made of smoke. Harkon charged at him, to no avail. Shade covered his arm in a black gauntlet and grabbed him by the throat, jumping forwards and smashing him into the main table.

   

  He then used the shadows around him to form a dagger on his hands, and put it right on the vampire’s neck. Then something unexpected happened. Shade reached to his face, and with a sudden move tore the mask from his face. The air became calmer. Shade dispelled the dagger from his hands and walked backwards, towards the exit of the castle.

   

  -I can show myself out- he said, as he walked towards the door – You’re coming with me Ruby…